2017–18 New York Knicks season

On June 28, 2017, the Knicks' president of basketball operations Phil Jackson has mutually agreed to leave the team.

For the first time since 2011, Carmelo Anthony was not on the roster, as he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the offseason, before training camp began, in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second round draft pick.

[4] Rumors of Jackson also trying to obtain point guard Lonzo Ball from the Los Angeles Lakers would also crop up months after the draft concluded.

For their only first round pick, the Knicks would select the French/Belgian point guard Frank Ntilikina, who last played for the SIG Strasbourg in France's LNB Pro A.

After the failed attempt to trade their star center, Jackson would ultimately be terminated from his position on June 28, 2017.