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New York Knicks: Early pros, cons of a Kyrie Irving pursuit in free agency

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 24: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics walks to the locker room after the game against the New York Knicks on February 24, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 24: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics walks to the locker room after the game against the New York Knicks on February 24, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 24: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics walks to the locker room after the game against the New York Knicks on February 24, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 24: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics walks to the locker room after the game against the New York Knicks on February 24, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Pro: Likely puts Knicks into the playoffs

The New York Knicks stood a chance to sneak into the 2018 playoffs, but Kristaps Porzingis’ injury derailed this, as the team’s post-ACL record was 6-21 to finish them at 29-53. 23-32 is still not a quality win-loss mark, but a trajectory towards 36-40 wins would have put them into the No. 8 seed hunt.

Given the Eastern Conference’s lack of depth, a Kyrie Irving acquisition, to team him with Porzingis, Kevin Knox and whoever else remains in 2019-20, likely puts New York into the postseason talk.

The East has its top-end teams, the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. After that, it’s an unknown ground, especially by 2019-20. No. 4 to 8 will be in flux, even with the Indiana Pacers rise and the talent movement in Milwaukee, and as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat all face questions.

Maybe one of those teams secures a long-term spot in the East for years to come, but given the disparity between the first three and everyone else, there will be a chance to break in and find success.

Next. 25 greatest players in franchise history. dark

So, it’s the Knicks’ opportunity to take advantage of, with another scoring talent around, a star already in place and the potential rise of recent draft picks. Along with a potential lottery selection in 2019, it might be an interesting group of talent to play towards this organization’s first playoff series since 2013.