As it turns out, Knicks president Phil Jackson made his trade-deadline move last week in naming a new coach. The players will stay the same.
Interim coach Kurt Rambis didn’t dispute the fact the Knicks could have used some help at Thursday’s deadline, but he also noted this was the team Jackson and the coaches “handpicked.’’
The Knicks were shut out at the deadline, even though their stated goal is to make an all-out blitz on a playoff run. They have an open roster spot to sign a player, but decided to wait until draft night and free agency to make a serious upgrade.
Jackson’s Bulls didn’t make many deals at the trade deadline. According to a source, one thought process by Knicks management was adding a player in a lateral talent move — a change for change’s sake — could backfire because of the complexities of the triangle offense.
The Knicks were hoping to juice up their unathletic backcourt, particularly at point guard, but not having a first-round pick in the coming years to throw into a deal was their biggest liability, according to sources.
Point guard Jose Calderon and power forward Kyle O’Quinn were two players on the block since dumping their contracts could have helped the Knicks’ 2016 cap situation. They will have $18 million in cap space, and if they don’t get Kevin Durant, they will attempt to land a premier point guard along the lines of Mike Conley or Rajon Rondo.
There still could be a summer reckoning with Carmelo Anthony, who has appeared to be losing patience with the Jackson plan.
While the Knicks were inactive, the Pistons, Hornets, Wizards and Magic — three teams they are competing against for the East’s eighth and final playoff seed — made moves. The Knicks (23-32) are five games out of a playoff spot with 27 to play starting Friday in Brooklyn.
The latest target, according to a report, was Minnesota shooting guard Kevin Martin. The Knicks had monitored point guards, Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson and even Shabazz Napier. There has been speculation Lawson or Martin could be waived, but that seems a long shot.
The Knicks had talks with the Timberwolves about Rubio, but his long-term contract extends to 2019 and he has been injury-prone. Rambis was with Minnesota when it drafted Rubio but never got to coach him as he stayed overseas. A source disputed a rumor the Knicks made a play for Rockets guard Patrick Beverley.
“We did talk about things,’’ Rambis said when asked if Jackson asked him what he would like to see done at the deadline. “I can’t talk about players on other teams. I think there’s two teams in the league that feel like they don’t have to make improvements or adjustments [the Warriors and Spurs]. Everybody else feels like there’s areas we can improve the ballclub. Those are areas we discussed. But the reality is all the rumors and talk that’s gone on, 99 percent of it is not going to happen. That’s the same thing with us.’’
Rambis still feels good about the roster, especially since the current regime brought in this group — save for Anthony, whom it re-signed to a five-year, $124 million contract.
“We handpicked all these guys,’’ Rambis said. “These players we liked and wanted. We know it’s not a finished product and got to improve. But we handpicked all these guys. We liked them and trying to develop them.
“We have talented players,’’ Rambis added. “We need those guys playing really hard, focused and together.”
When Rambis met the media after Thursday’s practice, it was an awkward time with the deadline still two hours away. But he said there were no trades brewing when he began practice. But as a sign of how edgy he was, Rambis admitted he once checked with Jackson and general manager Steve Mills to make sure nothing was cooking.
“Changes sometimes helps, sometimes hurts,’’ Rambis said. “We hope our guys are staying focused and in tune here. I know it’s always a precarious time. It will always be a precarious time. Players read all the rumors, and it can be very upsetting, especially [to] guys with families. That’s part of focusing and being in tune. I didn’t get from any of our guys that we were worried about it. But I know. I was there as a player. You read the stuff and people call you. It’s a huge disruption to their lives.”