Anthony Davis reportedly wanted to play for the New York Knicks, but the organization backed away at making a trade happen due to the cost and their long-term plan.
Less than a week ago, the most prominent members of the New York Knicks’ front office, Steve Mills and Scott Perry, stood at the post-game podium to address the media after a 2-8 start. Express their unhappiness, they eyed a superior beginning to the season than the laundry list of blowout losses. It seemed to point at the “now,” rather than the patience once preached. So that made a report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst eye-opening.
Anthony Davis, Windhorst said, expressed interest in playing for the Knicks before the trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Mills and Perry were “turned off” by the New Orleans Pelicans’ asking price of “multiple first-round picks plus multiple young players.” They felt it “would have undercut their long-range plan of building through the draft and developing picks into stars.”
Now, this was months before the awkward, impromptu press conference after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks were fresh off the “developmental” season when young players took priority and a high spot in the draft lottery was in sight. The long play was in place, and the Pelicans were rumored to have an eye on Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. Fine.
Then came the offseason.
The Knicks struck out on the top free agents. Instead, they added seven veterans to fill out the $70-plus million available in cap space. No one spoke on these players upon signing or the upcoming season until Media Day, so the team’s expectations were unknown.
More from Knicks News
- Former New York Knicks center gets real about 2013 playoff shortcomings
- When is the deadline for the Knicks to extend Immanuel Quickley?
- How to watch New York Knicks players compete for bronze at World Cup
- 3 Reasons Tom Thibodeau can’t ignore Miles McBride in 2023-24
- Knicks fans get super anticlimactic ending to 2023 FIBA World Cup
Well, here we are. It’s Nov. 15, the Knicks have already placed a microscope over Fizdale and Mills is selling owner James Dolan on this roster’s talent and a “poorly coached team.” That sounds like the same New York basketball team that has made quick fixes to head coach and the roster for decades.
Nothing about that sounds like a “long-range plan.”
Perhaps the mindset changed in the offseason, with the Knicks eyeing something grander sooner than later, flawed roster to everyone on the outside or not. Clearly, the front office expected more. Dolan seemingly did, too.
12 games have passed, but if the Knicks continue at this 3-9 pace for every 12 games, it will set them on a path towards another coaching change and some front-office maneuvering. What kind of plan is in place afterward?
This is more than the Davis rumors. This organization has no clear path to the public’s knowledge, just as they don’t have an identity on the court.
Are they playing to win now? That seemed evident of Mills and Perry’s presser.
Are they playing for the future? That seemed evident through the 2018-19 season and the NBA draft.
Something changed in-between, which will become clearer if Fizdale is fired and organizational and roster moves follow. There is no answer right now, other than to watch this team waver in different directions for the next five months.