When the Knicks have spoken over and over again about developing their young players, it has meant rookies Kevin Knox or Mitchell Robinson, who they can imagine starting alongside the help they believe will come this summer.
But as they make their way to the end of the season, an odd beneficiary to the plan is second-year player Luke Kornet, who ascended to the starting lineup along with Robinson Saturday, a plan that coach David Fizdale said he hopes to use through the final stretch of the season.
Kornet comes with none of the expectations and even a night like Monday, when he put up a career-high 24 points in a win over a Bulls lineup that he likely recognized from his time in the G League this season, it is a sidebar to the real hopes for the franchise.