New York Knicks: The foundation has already been laid

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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks talks to the media after being selected eighth overall at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Draft Picks: Finally Retained

Even if you hate every other decision he made, New York Knicks fans should thank Phil Jackson for this. Jackson inherited a position that provided him with an uphill battle, as the previous regimes had a disheartening tendency to trade away draft picks.

After years of treating draft picks like meaningless assets, Jackson set the standard for the Knicks retaining and valuing their first-round selections.

Prior to 2018, New York hadn’t possessed the rights to its first-round draft pick on an even year since 2008. It gave away its first-round selection in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, when it could’ve acquired cost-controlled talent to help sustain its success in the early 2010s.

For what it’s worth: The players selected with the Knicks’ picks were Gordon Hayward, Royce White, Dario Saric, and Jamal Murray.

We could lament the fact that Hayward is a star, Murray is inching towards that same status, and Saric is a dynamic talent who plays in the Atlantic Division. The past can’t be changed, however, which makes reflection the foundation for this critical point.

For the first time in a decade, the Knicks have a first-round draft pick on an even year—a sign that the organization is learning from its mistakes.

Must Read: Five reasons to consider Tony Carr at the 2018 NBA Draft

Simply put: The New York Knicks have already laid the foundation for success.

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