New York Knicks president Phil Jackson sees a playoff spot in the team's near future.
New York won just 37 games last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in four year. But last season's disappointment isn't dampening Jackson's optimism.
"We believe that we're going to be a playoff team and then we don't know how far we'll be able to go," Jackson said Friday. "We're hoping for the best."
Jackson has made significant roster changes since becoming team president earlier this year. After re-signing Carmelo Anthony, Jackson replace coach Mike Woodson with rookie coach and former player Derek Fisher. Additionally, Jackson traded starters Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks for a package headlined by Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert.
"We have really good depth on this team. I think we feel like we're backed up in every position with some depth, and I think that's really good," Jackson said. "Derek can feature what he wants to feature on the different units during preseason and find out who works well together."
The Knicks have not won a championship in 40 seasons. Jackson, who was a player on that title-winning team, understands the sense of urgency from fans.
"[They] want to know how long do we have to wait? We hope it's expedient; we have it right next door," Jackson said in reference to the New York Rangers' appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals last season. "It's a step-by-step process. Usually teams come into the playoffs, learn from being in the playoffs and gradually assume capabilities of carrying out the championship ... This team has not got a personality - over 35 percent of the team has changed.
"So we still have to kind of come together in a bonding way that creates trust, teamwork, identity, some things like that. So we're about going through this process and enjoying the process and the journey that we go through."
New York will kick off the season Oct. 29 against the Chicago Bulls.
