New York Knicks’ Steve Mills asks for ‘patience’ with team’s plan
The New York Knicks have returned to asking everyone for patience with rebuilding the franchise.
Free agency was teased as the positive endgame for the New York Knicks for months, with their reported links to Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and even Kawhi Leonard. All seemed fine, until the noise of Irving signing with Brooklyn grew louder, Durant’s Achilles injury and Leonard winning a title with Toronto.
That potentially leaves the Knicks superstar-less this summer. Each of their potential targets has cases to sign elsewhere, and it could mean the steady rebuild continues into 2019-20.
At Friday’s introductory press conference for RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis, Mills did not address free agency, but asked for “patience” with the team’s plan, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. It was a different sound from the previous confidence via owner James Dolan:
"“I think we’re asking them [the fans] to continue to be patient,’’ Mills said. “We laid out a plan when Scott [Perry] came on board and then David [Fizdale] joined us that we were gonna build this team the right way. We’re going to draft well and we’re gonna be diligent about how we make this team and not take any shortcuts. And follow a path. We believe these two guys [Barrett and second-rounder Ignas Brazdeikis of Michigan] are part of that process — the young guys that we added over the last two years.’’"
Patience will come into play if the Knicks strike out this summer. They can make a play for the next tier of free agents like Julius Randle and Khris Middleton, but those players alone will not take this franchise to a contender threat, unlike the aforementioned trio that will headline free agency and even Kemba Walker.
Instead, it might be a summer of one-year contracts on higher salaries to consume that $70 million in space. The Knicks will obviously use part of it, but for players to keep the team afloat and will roster spots with barely half the 15-man group full.
Another 17-65 season can be avoided with the growth of Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and Allonzo Trier in their second year and however Barrett plays as a rookie. It might not result in more than 25 to 30 wins, but as long as year-over-year growth transpires, this team will trend in a superior direction to 2018-19.
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Patience is not a term New York Knicks fans who want results will love, especially without a playoff appearance since 2013; but with young pieces in place, extra draft assets to build the team or use for trades and a stable management and coaching staff in place, there is reason for optimism for everything to turn around. It just might take more time than expected.