LAS VEGAS – Clarence Gaines, Phil Jackson’s top adviser, was so enamored with Kristaps Porzingis, he thought the Knicks should take the 19-year-old if they won the lottery.
Gaines, a Bulls scout during Jackson’s tenure and his only new front-office hire with the Knicks, is considered Jackson’s most trusted personnel guy. Gaines made a scouting trip to Spain last winter to watch the 7-foot-3 Latvian.
“Clarence had gone over and seen him and he sent Phil a text and said if he had the first pick of the draft, this is the kid he would take,’’ Knicks general manager Steve Mills said during Monday night’s summer-league telecast from Vegas on MSG Network.