Knicks could end up bottom of the Eastern Conference this year…
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New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher has insisted that no-one in the franchise is thinking ahead to what pick they will receive in the 2015 NBA Draft.
The Knicks currently have the worst record in the NBA at 6-36 for the season but the Philadelphia 76ers aren’t far off them as the two teams prepare to face off on Wednesday night.
Where the teams finish will determine just how many chances they have in landing the top overall pick in the league’s Draft Lottery process, but Fisher isn’t concerning himself with that discussion.
“There’s no interest in thinking about which pick we might get based on the way the ping-pong balls bounces when we play Philadelphia [Wednesday] night,” Fisher told the New York Post.
“There’s no correlation in my mind. Maybe some other people see it differently.
“It’s the NBA. You’ll always have a chance to get good players. But when you have a foundation, a system and way of playing, that allows for good players you have or get in the future to be able to be successful.”
Given that the Knicks hierarchy has opted to trade both Iman Shumpert and JR Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers, waived Samuel Dalembert and are reportedly shopping Jose Calderon as well as considering buying out Amar’e Stoudemire’s contract, the decision to tank comes higher up than Fisher and the players.
It is clear that the strategy is to rebuild this summer in free agency, but it would come as no surprise if the Knicks continued to lose with what they have left and end up bottom of the standings and holding the best chance of obtaining the No.1 pick.
Their case might even be strengthened further if it is decided that Carmelo Anthony should sit the remainder of the season, with the 30-year-old continuing to struggle with a sore knee.
Melo is adamant that he wants to play in the All-Star Game which will be played at Madison Square Garden this year, and so a decision may well be taken after that with the All-Star weekend taking place over February 13-15.
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