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New York Knicks: 2017-18 season is the perfect opportunity to tank

By James O'Connell

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina walks to the stage after being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina walks to the stage after being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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With the NBA offseason being as crazy as every before, the New York Knicks have become the perfect contender to tank the 2017-18 entire season.

There’s absolutely no way that you can look at the New York Knicks roster and say with a straight face that this team can make a deep run in the playoffs. With LeBron James still in the Eastern Conference, and the Boston Celtics adding Gordon Hayward, it wouldn’t even make sense for the Knicks to try to put together a roster filled with veterans on big contracts who are looking to win.

Believe it or not, Knicks are actually ahead of schedule with this rebuild. They already have a franchise centerpiece in Kristaps Porzingis that they could build a contending team around in years to come.

Frank Ntilikina projects to be a solid NBA player, which is perfectly fine, and should be expected out of a No. 8 overall pick.

However, tanking the 2017-18 season and having a chance to grab a guy like Michael Porter Jr. with a Top 3 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft is way too tempting.

The NBA’s competitiveness was pushed to another level this offseason. With new “Super teams” being formed in places like Minnesota and Houston, the Knicks are nowhere near the level of any of the contending teams.

That’s why it makes complete sense to go for the No. 1 overall draft pick.

The Knicks have the perfect opportunity. Their fans understand that this rebuild is going to take time, which is unusual for New York sports fanatics. Most fans are actually in favor of tanking the season rather than trying for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and getting obliterated by LeBron James in the first round.

It doesn’t make sense to even attempt a brief postseason appearance, and Steve Mills seems like he knows exactly what he is doing. The fact that the Knicks waited to spend even a dime this offseason shows exactly what direction this organization is heading in.

Mills completely understands that the Knicks have some young talent, and that they have to surround it with more young talent. He was interested in guys like Ben McLemore and Dion Waiters, both younger players with a ton of potential.

The Knicks’ plan should be throwing this season to the side, developing the young talent, and trying to add more of it. Getting the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft would do exactly that.

Pairing up Kristaps Porzingis with a truly dominant and an intriguing prospect could be the formula for the Knicks to get back on top eventually.

Stockpiling young talent would likely prove successful. By the time the Knicks are ready to start contending, LeBron James should be a shadow of what he is right now.

Must Read: Five reasons to love the Frank Ntilikina selection

Be smart, New York Knicks Knicks, as the only standings you should be looking at this year are the Tankathon standings.

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