Tom Thibodeau says Knicks ‘have to be very aggressive’ in pursuit of star

NEW YORK — The Knicks adopted the patient approach to their offseason, declining to push free agency or the trade market for available stars. They sold flexibility over haste, punting their cap space to the trade deadline or next summer.

There were sensible reasons but cap space never scored a point. Also, the future options are already diminished. Giannis Antetokounmpo removed himself from any relocation consideration Tuesday by agreeing to a five-year extension with the Bucks, joining Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Donovan Mitchell in opting for stability over 2021 free agency. Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and John Wall were all traded. James Harden is on the market but targeted contending franchises as desirable destinations. The Knicks, meanwhile, remain without a proven star, and without a clear way to fill that void.

Tom Thibodeau said inactivity won’t solve the problem.

“Sometimes you have to do it through trades, sometimes it’s free agency,” the coach said Tuesday. “But I think you have to be very aggressive in seeking out those opportunities. They just don’t happen by accident. You have to make them happen.”

Thibodeau also brought up drafting and development as a means to a star, using his experience with Jimmy Butler in Chicago as an example. The Knicks have several lottery picks on the roster, although none yet deserving of a ‘can’t miss’ label (RJ Barrett has shown the most promise). With the way New York’s front office sat on its cap space in the offseason, Thibodeau’s comments felt like a call for movement.

“Being opportunistic is important. Sometimes there’s situations that arise whether it be through free agency or trade — but I think every day that has to be a priority for the organization to seek out those opportunities,” Thibodeau said. “When you look at what’s going on in the league things can change very quickly. You work every day with your player development, try to improve through the draft, you have free agency and you have trades. I think you have to be very aggressive in each area. Sitting back and waiting sometimes is not a good thing.”

The Knicks carried $40 million in cap space into free agency and only spent about half of it. They avoided any multi-year deals and upgraded with stopgaps on the margins. Thibodeau arrived with a reputation for impatience as a win-now coach, having completed just two losing seasons in his last 15 years as a head coach or assistant. As team president in Minnesota, he traded three lottery picks for Butler and immediately guided the franchise to its only playoff appearance since 2004.

The Knicks, who host Cleveland on Tuesday in their preseason home opener, haven’t made the playoffs in over seven years and Thibodeau doesn’t seem comfortable letting that streak continue. And as he waits for aggressive roster moves, Thibodeau is simultaneously pushing his young team toward improvement.

“You don’t do anything by yourself. It’s the group. And it’s the front office. It’s ownership. It’s the players. We’re going to need everyone pulling in the same direction,” Thibodeau said. “And doing everything we can each and every day to improve. At the end of the day, we really only answer to ourselves. Only we know if we’re putting everything we have into something, and then anything is possible. So we if we keep concentrating on that we will get better and we will see good things in the end.”