The New York Knicks must decide on a plan leading up to the 2018 NBA trade deadline. Unfortunately, they may be stuck in the mud as a decision looms.
As the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline nears, teams must decide if they need to add pieces for a playoff push, sell off veterans for a fresh start, or hold out with their current rosters until season’s end. The New York Knicks have been very quiet about their intentions for this deadline and it is understandable why.
The Knicks are not technically out of the postseason picture, as only four games separate them from the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Yet, while the team is not mathematically out of contention, recent performances have convinced even the most optimistic of Knicks fans that this season is a lost cause.
I was one of those optimists as recently as Sunday, when I took a seat among the Garden faithful to witness an embarrassing performance by both officials and players. After the stunning loss to the league-worst Atlanta Hawks, fans like myself stood shocked by the team’s collapse.
Following the wave of shock after the go-ahead three by Hawks swingman Kent Bazemore in the final minute, the immediate thought of what could have been different clung to my mind.
The Knicks are a broken franchise and have been for multiple seasons—if not decades—now. The whispers of a dysfunctional clubhouse, as well as front office, have been well-documented.
From Carmelo Anthony’s public fallout with Phil Jackson and Knicks’ management to Kristaps Porzingis skipping his exit interview, New York has been more of a punchline than a contender in recent years.
Where Did The Problem Originate?
The one constant in the smoke and fire of past turmoil was the involvement of Phil Jackson. Jackson orchestrated possibly the most beneficial draft selection in Knicks history (to be determined) in selecting a skinny European who has since become the hope of New York.
Following his success in drafting Porzingis, however, Jackson was somehow capable of tarnishing his once spotless resume.
Jackson’s time with the Knicks was cut to an end in late June, and once again hope was born. This season’s team started hot, and fans saw what appeared to be a group of young men growing up in front of their eyes.
The team’s joyfulness and youth made them fun—a term in the NBA that generally refers to up-and-coming squads that push the pace offensively, which is exactly what the Knicks aspire to be.
This is where a dilemma appears. Do you really want to destroy a group of guys that seem to have the chemistry to win games with the right system and player development training?
Or is the threat of consistent mediocrity enough to blow up the core, and trade all deemed nonessential to future success?
Why Are They Stuck?
The NBA has two straightforward choices that are widely recognized as the paths to success. Either win or lose, but not both. Playoff appearances sell seats and please all involved.
If a team appears incapable of achieving that level of success, however, many see the most logical option as creating a losing trajectory to get an early draft pick.
The Knicks now have a question faced by many struggling teams in early February. This decision is a bit different for New York’s management than it would seem to an NBA analyst, however.
Don’t forget the illogical hope of a Knicks fan—the hope that whispered to me and those around me in section 116. row 20: “Four wins in a row and we’re back in it.”
What Does History Tell Us?
Knicks management, despite its endless mistakes, understands the mindset that whispers encouragement to depressed fans. It’s why they outbid a potential suitor list comprised of solely themselves to impatiently acquire Carmelo Anthony before they could have signed him the following summer without trading any assets.
The Knicks are stuck with a decision of chemistry or roster destruction. Expect a decision similar to all others of recent times. Whether it be a flashy, yet eventually disappointing new player, or a once proud Zen Master who is now outcast to his Montana cabin.
Expect a move of immediate gratification that drives fan hope.
The Knicks like to sell dreams, and the people love to buy it. Even though the anticipated hangover to a once-promising Knicks acquisition is comparable to none, appreciate the hope.
Eventually, the suffering will lead to gratification.
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As former New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose once said, “I’ve had five surgeries, and I had an eye socket fracture. I’m too far in to just walk away.”
Amen, Derrick. Amen.