New York Knicks: Five reasons Carmelo Anthony trade talks should be paused

2. The Weakened Eastern Conference

Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and Paul Millsap all migrated West during the 2017 offseason. As a result of their departure, three Eastern Conference teams that made the playoffs in 2016-17 are likely to be non-factors in 2017-18: the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers.

With the Eastern Conference hierarchy depleted, Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks have a legitimate opportunity to end the postseason drought.

One could fairly argue that the lottery would be a better place for New York to be, but there would be benefits to reaching the playoffs. Not only would the Knicks become more attractive in free agency, but the young players would gain invaluable experience.

Postseason basketball is a different environment than regular season basketball, and the sooner the young core gains experience in that setting, the better.

The Knicks have four 25-and-under players whom the front office values as the long-term core Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez. All four of those players need postseason experience, and all four could achieve some measure of it in 2017-18.

The key to that transpiring, however, would be for a reinvigorated Anthony to return to New York and lead this promising young core to what’s been elusive success.