Knicks Morning News (2017.07.18)

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Tim Hardaway Jr. has never been a full-time starter in the NBA, but the Knicks view him as one and paid him as one. That’s how Knicks president Steve Mills justified giving Hardaway a four-year, $71-million contract.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Knicks introduced their new management team Monday, with Steve Mills as president and Scott Perry as general manager.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — New team president Steve Mills wouldn’t rule out Carmelo Anthony being with the Knicks in the fall, but he said they will continue to explore trades for him.

“Player development will be a focus of our organization,” said Steve Mills, who noted that he and Perry will “work in tandem in making sure we have a first-class operation.”

Knicks president Steve Mills said the team wanted to “slow down and regroup” regarding a potential trade of Anthony after hiring new GM Scott Perry last week.

Knicks’ Mills: Possible Melo could stay put

Steve Mills wants his new hire Scott Perry to fight for moves he believes in, but ultimately the final decision will be made by the president, not the general manager. “I’m going to give Scott the room to make basketball decisions and make recommendations to me,’’ Mills said at Monday’s press conference to formally announce…

Wait a minute. What was going on here? Jeff Hornacek was talking in Westchester on Monday about the Knicks style, and the word “triangle” never was used? By anybody. Guess change really is in the air around the Knicks. So Hornacek spoke more about “defense” than geometric figures. Defense. It’s enough to bring the old…

There were promises of hard work and development and cooperation. And there were no grandiose promises of titles, no sickening arrogance when résumés were rubbed in everyone’s face and definitely no follow-up tweets that an ancient languages expert would have trouble deciphering. And during the Knicks’ press conference at their Westchester practice facility, where Steve…

The Knicks’ new president Steve Mills didn’t take a lie detector test, but he vowed he would have drafted point guard Frank Ntilikina with the eighth pick if he had final say. Sources told The Post that Phil Jackson and his top adviser, Clarence Gaines Jr., were hot and heavy for the 18-year-old Frenchman. Ntilikina…

Well, that was very diplomatic. In even-keeled tones so opposite those of the departed Phil Jackson, new Knicks president Steve Mills said he won’t buy out Carmelo Anthony, allowed the possibility of him being on the Knicks next season but said he hopes they can reach “some resolution that works well for both of us.’’…

Strap in Knicks fans, and get ready for another long rebuild.

The Knicks may or may not have Carmelo Anthony on their roster next season, but a buyout isn’t an option.

Steve Mills is a holdover from the Phil Jackson regime, but he’ll have to prove he won’t be more of the same for the Knicks.

Well, $71 million is certainly aggressive.

Forget about the triangle offense — these Knicks will be all about scrappy team defense and developing young players.

At a news conference announcing the appointment of another team president and another general manager, things seemed different.

The team’s new executives emphasized that their efforts would focus on young players, which seemed to leave Anthony’s spot on the team in question.

After 24 years, Leslie Alexander is ready to sell his team that Forbes is estimating to be worth $1.65 billion — and Forbes has underestimated before.