Report: Knicks pursuing young players, picks with Porzingis out

The New York Knicks are reportedly changing their game plan as the trade deadline nears.

With Kristaps Porzingis set to miss the rest of the season, the team has apparently shifted its focus from making the playoffs to building for the future. The Knicks are now pursuing young players and draft picks ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline, sources told ESPN's Ian Begley.

Porzingis suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Tuesday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, spelling the end of a career year for him and likely New York's chances of reaching the postseason for the first time in five years.

The first-time All-Star was excited about the possibility of his first playoff run and wanted his club to pick up veterans before the deadline. But even before the injury, the Knicks were reportedly hesitant to give up their own picks and promising players to acquire talent - like hometown star Kemba Walker, for instance - or sweeten a potential deal to ship out the exiled Joakim Noah.

Now, the Knicks appear to be looking to add to those assets, reportedly taking calls on Courtney Lee and Kyle O'Quinn. On Wednesday, they picked up forward Johnny O'Bryant and second-round picks in 2020 and 2021 from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Willy Hernangomez.

Related: Can the Knicks make the best of a bad situation?

After spending most of the season hovering around the .500 mark, the Knicks have lost four straight and sit five games back of the final playoff spot.