Add Florida center Patric Young as another name to Phil Jackson’s wish list in Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
Jackson, entering his first draft as Knicks president, doesn’t have a draft pick in either round but is looking to buy or trade for at least one — possibly late in the first round.
According to a source, Young, who averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds as a senior, worked out for Jackson this month and impressed. The 6-foot-10, 245-pounder is considered an early second-round pick but his stock appears to be rising. An ESPN.com mock draft had him at No. 30.
Jackson is also very hot on North Carolina shooting guard P.J. Hairston, projected as a late first-rounder. Jackson has interest, too, in Syracuse point guard Tyler Ennis late in the first round. Ennis wouldn’t work out for the Knicks; some see him as a late lottery pick.
The Knicks have $1.8 million in cash with which to buy picks in the draft and have explored dealing Iman Shumpert. In a bigger blockbuster, center Tyson Chandler could be made available.
The limit is $3 million to spend in transactions for a year, and they gave $1.2 million to Toronto in the Andrea Bargnani disaster. They will have the full $3 million to spend beginning July 1.
Jackson likes his centers big and wide and Young fits the bill.
“Big, strong body,’’ ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said Tuesday. “Obviously he can hold his position and he’s an excellent post defender. His rebounding numbers won’t wow you. I have him later in the second round, but [he’s a] a guy that you can put in and be physical, set screens.’’
The Knicks also have worked out Arizona State’s speedy point guard Jahii Carson, slated as a second-round pick.