David Fizdale: Knicks Sticking to 'Awesome Plan,' Kristaps Porzingis 'Excited'

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale is optimistic about where his team stands entering the 2018-19 season. 

In an interview with NBC New York's Bruce Beck (h/t Marc Berman of the New York Post) on Wednesday, Fizdale said the following about the Knicks' development:

"It's already happening. Kristaps [Porzingis] will come back healthy. He was already having a big-time season last year when he got knocked down. We had an awesome draft with Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier—our two-way player. [General manager] Scott [Perry] and these guys are sticking to an awesome plan, bringing in guys maybe that didn't work out at a place before but are high draft picks. [With] good player development, good culture, they can turn into something they were expected to be. We're doing it the right way."

Per ESPN's Ian Begley, Fizdale added that Porzingis is "excited" about the upcoming campaign.

It's unclear when Porzingis will return to the court after suffering a torn ACL in February that cut his 2017-18 season short, but Fizdale has massive expectations for him.

"I think he likes the challenge of me saying I want him to be the MVP, I want him to be defensive player of the year," Fizdale said. "Real competitors, they want that. And I'm going right at it with him. I want him to look at himself that way."

The 23-year-old Porzingis was named an All-Star for the first time last season, as he averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

While Porzingis, center Enes Kanter, shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and point guard Frank Ntilikina will continue to be key players for the Knicks, several roster changes were made last season as well.

Fizdale specifically mentioned draft picks Knox and Robinson, as well as Trier, who was signed as an undrafted free agent.

All of them performed well in summer league, and there are especially high hopes for Knox to be a Rookie of the Year contender in 2018-19.

Also, the Knicks signed underachieving guard Mario Hezonja in free agency after he spent the first three seasons of his career with the Orlando Magic.

Hezonja has yet to live up to his potential since getting taken No. 5 overall in the 2015 NBA draft, but he made strides last season, averaging 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

The Knicks are widely expected to be among the worst teams in the Eastern Conference in 2018-19, but their rebuilding timetable could speed up if their young talent develops more quickly than expected.

New York is coming off a 29-53 season, and it hasn't reached the playoffs since 2012-13.

The upcoming campaign will be Fizdale's first as head coach of the Knicks after Jeff Hornacek served in that role the previous two seasons.