With Kristaps Porzingis set to miss the majority of the 2018-19 season for the New York Knicks, expectations for the franchise are extremely low heading into the next campaign. 

Their superstar is recovering from a torn ACL and is unlikely to be back until the latter stages of the regular season.

The Knicks haven't made many moves this summer and fans in the Big Apple are not hopeful of seeing their team end a long playoff drought. 

But one exciting addition they've made to the team is their number nine draft pick, Kevin Knox. 

The 19-year-old impressed in the Summer League last month and has created a buzz in New York. 

Ambitious

The promising Duke product may be the bright spark for the team next year and he's hoping he can have a positive impact on the team and prove some people wrong. 

One bookmaker in Las Vegas has set the Knicks' over/under to 29.5 wins next season but Knox believes they can turn some heads and be a surprise package. 

"I saw that. People are sleeping on us with the 29 wins," he said, per Marc Berman of The New York Post.

"I think we definitely can win at least 35 and get in that playoff talk. That's my personal opinion.

"Everyone has their own opinion. But the whole team, I'm pretty confident we're really good this year, that we have a chance to make the playoffs."

This is a hugely ambitious claim by the rookie as the team simply has a shortage of stars to call upon to make it happen. 

The departure of LeBron James to the Western Conference may open things up in the east but the chances of the Knicks securing a postseason berth are slim. 

They may make strides with David Fizdale as their new head coach but their lack of dealings in this offseason will hamper them. 

Even Fizdale acknowledged that their focus is on the summer of 2019 as they aim to attract at least one marquee free agent on the market. 

New York won just 29 games last year and considering the Washington Wizards secured the eighth and final playoff place with 43 wins, it'll be a huge surprise to see them get anywhere close to that mark.

But it's a hugely positive sign for the Knicks that their talented young small forward already has a winning mentality and is keen to compete. 

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