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New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis is the current roster’s missing piece

By Christian Kim

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 5: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during a pre-season game on October 5, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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 - OCTOBER 5: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during a pre-season game on October 5, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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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Just 10 months after the trade, the New York Knicks are already missing Kristaps Porzingis’ presence.

The New York Knicks selected Kristaps Porzingis fourth overall in the 2015 draft. With the trade of Carmelo Anthony two seasons after, the Knicks franchise understood what it meant to trade away their superstar of seven seasons. They were entering a new era where the focus was no longer to build a playoff team around Anthony but to rebuild around Porzingis through youth.

Year after year, the Knicks put themselves in a dilemma where the team was paying out high salaries yet it didn’t translate to wins. At the same time, there were just too many veterans on the team to simply tank.

On Sept. 25, 2017, the Knicks traded Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round draft pick (this became Mitchell Robinson).

So at the start of the season, the starting lineup consisted of Ramon Sessions, Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr, Kristaps Porzingis, and Enes Kanter. Until Porzingis’ injury, the team, led by this young star, racked up 22 wins and 26 losses.

For a rebuilding team, this outplayed their expectations. Despite the unjustifiable contracts of Hardaway and Joakim Noah, it seemed like the Knicks were finally heading in the right direction under Scott Perry and Steve Mills.

At the end of the 2017-18 season, the Knicks ended up winning a few games too many and ended up with the ninth pick, later choosing Kevin Knox. The real treasure was unearthed with the second-round pick that came with the Anthony trade: Mitchell Robinson.

Knowing Porzingis was out for the year, there was no pressure for the 2018-19 Knicks. With the addition of Noah Vonleh and Mario Hezonja, the Knicks were only taking their chances on former lottery picks that were on “prove it” deals. This was true for Trey Burke and Emmanuel Mudiay, as well. Like all the young players that come to the Knicks, they all fell short of their expectations and their elevated play, at times, was short-lived.

Nonetheless, the Knicks faithful wanted this time to be a time to develop their young players like Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks tankathon was on full strength and fans were unhappy. But this is what a smart front office should have done. Not a single soul blamed David Fizdale or the front office for all the losses they racked up. Everyone knew what this season was for: tanking for Zion Williamson to pair with Porzingis.

Well, on Jan. 31, something inexplicable happened: the knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis (young All-star coming off an ACL injury), Trey Burke (backup point guard), Tim Hardaway Jr (salary dump), and Courtney Lee (another salary dump) to the Dallas Mavericks for DeAndre Jordan (half-year year rental), Wesley Matthews (waived), Dennis Smith Jr, and two first-round picks (2023 is top-10 protected).

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After all the abuse that the Knicks fans took from the Isiah Thomas years, many of them had promised themselves never to trust the front office again. Just when they started to hope with Phil Jackson, the Knicks fans were left with the team paying Noah $17 million per year.

It was not the first time the Knicks traded away their young talent or a first-round pick, but it was the first time in my memory that they traded someone away that was already a sure thing.

In trading away Porzingis, the front office was able to part with two big contracts in Lee and Hardaway Jr., but they were not part of the issue in New York. Maybe there would have been a silver lining to this if the Knicks were able to part with Noah, but, of course, they waived him three months prior and must pay him through the 2021-22 season.

If this trade did not take place, the current lineup may look like this:

  • PG – Frank Ntilikina
  • SG – RJ Barrett
  • SF – Kevin Knox
  • PF – Kristaps Porzingis
  • C – Mitchell Robinson

While this is not a group that will win you championships, any NBA general manager would rather have this group of young talent than the current Knicks roster.

Many speculated Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to join the Knicks in free agency and turn the organization around, but both stars signed with the Brooklyn Nets. While some may argue Durant’s Achilles tear may have altered his decision on the Knicks, the point is that the Knicks traded away a franchise corner piece to sign the following players: Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, etc.

While all competent players, these players are not players you build your team around. Porzingis, and now RJ Barrett, are those kinds of pieces that you build around.

There were some rumblings about how Porzingis wanted a trade and wanted out of New York, but there is so much that goes into negotiations that do not meet the public’s eyes.

At the end of the day, a front office is supposed to do its best to keep the best players on the team. Kobe Bryant asked for a trade to the Bulls in 2007, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ general manager at the time, Mitch Kupchak, did not give in. He pivoted and acquired Pau Gasol, and the Lakers won two championships. That’s what winning front offices do, they pivot.

The Knicks’ front office had once again fallen into the trap of trying to buy a contender. Now, seven seasons past the last playoff appearance, this current roster seems to be heading into another year of mediocrity.

As the Knicks see Porzingis in a Mavericks jersey for the first time, there will be jeers and shouts, but how much of the boos should go to Porzingis? How much of the boos should go to the front office? Only time will tell based on Porzingis’ ability to stay healthy.

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Meanwhile, the New York Knicks fans can only dream of what this team could have looked like with Porzingis, Barrett and these other young pieces.

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