“It’d be crazy to be an all-time great in New York City. That’s a dream come true.”

That’s what Knicks first-round pick Kevin Knox told the New York Post after being selected ninth overall in the 2018 NBA draft. But he’ll initially be tasked with lifting the team out of its nightmarish state. Luckily for Knox, the future of the franchise looks far brighter than the present.

After a great run through the late 1980s and 1990s, the Knicks have been a disaster for the majority of two decades. The team has made the postseason just four times since 2000 despite consistently having one of the league’s highest payrolls. They have cycled through 10 coaches in that span, including four in the last five years.

The Knicks have sacrificed first-round picks for marginal improvement and famously gave up a massive haul for Carmelo Anthony despite him expressing a desire to join the Knicks as a free agent the coming summer. New York handed Phil Jackson — a legendary NBA coach who had zero front office experience — $60 million to turn the team around. Outside of drafting Kristaps Porzingis, Jackson’s tenure went horribly wrong. Anthony was shipped out last offseason after a public feud with the front office. Jackson was shown the door as well.

The Knicks still have to deal with two major contracts from the Jackson era: Joakim Noah and Tim Hardaway Jr. The latter was at least a productive player on the court last season, averaging 17.5 points per game. Noah appeared in just seven contests for New York and still has two years left on a four-year, $72 million contract. Even with Tom Thibodeau attempting to run back the 2012 Bulls in Timberwolves jerseys, it appears the Knicks won’t be getting rid of Noah’s deal without attaching significant draft assets. Outside of these contracts, the franchise is in good shape to eventually return to the glory days of the 80s and 90s.

In its first big move, New York hired Scott Perry as general manager to head the rebuilding effort. Perry has experience building championship teams from his days with the Pistons, and he selected Kevin Durant when he was the assistant GM of the Sonics. With all of the Knicks’ future first-round picks intact, Perry won’t be short on draft capital. His first selection, Knox, already looks like the second star New York needs.

Knox had an interesting season at Kentucky. He shot 6-for-23 in his first two games with the Wildcats before finding his footing against weaker non-conference opponents. Knox ran into a similar roadblock when conference play started, shooting 12-for-39 from the floor in his first four SEC games.

The biggest concern about Knox’s draft potential was his shooting ability and through 15 games, he was connecting on just 30.9 percent of his threes. But like most Kentucky freshman, Knox turned the corner midway through the season when his team needed it most.

This game showcased everything tantalizing about Knox. He hit six three-pointers and engineered a second-half comeback against one of the toughest defensive teams on the road. His inside-outside scoring ability was on full display against West Virginia and he effectively took Sagaba Konate, one of the best shot-blockers in college basketball, out of the game. Knox shot 35.5 percent from deep through the SEC conference tournament, leading Kentucky to a fourth straight tournament title.

The shooting ability continued through the NBA Summer League. Knox hit 35.7 percent of his three-point attempts in four summer league games and was named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team.

Knox’s fit next to Porzingis gives the Knicks a potent 1-2 punch offensively. Both players have the ability to stretch the floor and beat defenders off the dribble. Porzingis will routinely draw extra defenders, creating additional lanes for Knox to attack the rims.

The Knicks’ new regime also didn’t break the bank in free agency (mostly because that damage had already been done) and opted to go after young players with high upside instead. Mario Hezonja, a Perry draft pick from his time in Orlando, finally has the opportunity to grow. Hezonja never got started in Orlando and fell back in the rotation behind big-money free agents and a crowded wing rotation. New York also added Emmanuel Mudiay, who ironically was projected to go to the Knicks instead of Porzingis. Mudiay hasn’t lived up to his draft hype, but the guard is still only 22 and should receive strong guidance under new coach David Fizdale.

New York’s second-round pick has the potential to be one of the steals of the draft. Mitchell Robinson was a five-star recruit heading into college, but left Western Kentucky after being suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. After mulling transfer options, he opted to sit out the entire season and head for the NBA instead.

There’s no other way to put it: Robinson went nuts in Summer League play. He averaged 10.2 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game and showcased his athleticism on both ends of the floor. Robinson has the potential to anchor the Knicks’ interior defense alongside Porzingis. He’ll get plenty of time to develop behind Enes Kanter and should find success against most NBA bench units.

Knox, Porzingis and 2017 first-round pick Frank Ntilikina form a strong young trio for Perry and Fizdale to work around. With a relatively clean cap sheet and the big market draw of New York and Madison Square Garden, the Knicks are set up to get back to their winning ways.