The Knicks’ Big Gamble...Will It Even Matter?

Things are getting wild in the NBA this week. First, Anthony Davis told the New Orleans Pelicans that he would be elsewhere next season and the trade offers began to roll in.

Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the Pelican’s GM, Dell Demps, apparently isn’t entertaining many calls right now, well aware that Boston can’t do anything under NBA rules until after the season ends and Boston can offer far more than any other NBA team can.

Davis though reportedly favors LA.

Another bombshell dropped on Thursday though as the New York Knicks suddenly traded another star young big man, Kristaps Porzingis, to Dallas, where the Mavericks hope to pair him with the brilliant rookie Luka Doncic. However, Porzingis will be a restricted free agent and can choose not to re-sign with the Mavs.

The Knicks will get former NC State star Dennis Smith, Deandre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two first round picks. They won’t be keeping Jordan and Matthews. The Knicks also tossed in Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to clear cap space.

There are also rumors that Kyrie Irving, who publicly committed to the Celtics, might still be interested in being a Knick and living out a boyhood dream, though that would overlap with Smith, who is a point guard and a fairly jealous one at that.

And indeed, the master plan for the Knicks is to waive Jordan and Matthews, bring in two max free agents and, possibly, if tanking goes well enough and the ping pong balls work out, Zion Williamson.

In a dream world, the Knicks would start next season with Irving, Williamson and Kevin Durant.

There’s a problem here though.

We’re talking about the New York Knicks, one of the most poorly run franchises in pro sports.

Who in their right mind would voluntarily join that disaster? What sense would it make for Durant to leave a model franchise for one that’s a joke? Especially when he’d have to take a payout?

For that matter, if the Knicks do get Williamson, and he has to deal with a team that’s almost certain to show minimal improvement over the next 3-4 years, what’s the point of him sticking around?

The problem with New York is simple: owner James L. Dolan. He’s not nearly as loathsome as former Clippers owner Donald Sterling but on a day-to-day basis how much more competent is he?

There’s no need to list every disaster but just mention a few names and you get the idea and if not google them with the Knicks: Isaiah Thomas. Phil Jackson. Larry Brown. Charles Oakley. Renaldo Balkman. Anucha Browne-Sanders.

This year they did manage to get a useful player in Kevin Knox but why would he voluntarily stay with such a soul-sapping organization?

Like the Clippers, and for that matter the NFL’s Washington Redskins, things will only improve when the ownership changes.

We hope no current Duke player has to deal with this loser and the train wreck he has made of this once-glorious franchise.