New York Knicks: Trading Porzingis could be the beginning of a dynasty
By Tron Griffin
After trading Kristaps Porzingis, the New York Knicks are setup to swing big in free agency and possibly birth the next great dynasty in the NBA
The New York Knicks trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks last week surprised many NBA experts and fans.
The Knicks have been losing for years and has made bad decision after bad decision. So the Knicks trading away Porzingis, an all-star who averaged 18.1 and 22.7 points a game over the last two seasons, seemed ridiculous.
Well, remember the Knicks are the franchise that gave the Chicago Bulls a first and two second round draft picks for Eddy Curry in 2005 despite him averaging under 11 points in two of his four seasons with the Bulls. Even worse than Curry’s average, was the fact that the Knicks traded for Curry as part of the Bulls’ six-year, $56 million sign-and-trade deal despite him having real health issues.
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In 2005, the Knicks signed veteran coach Larry Brown to a five-year contract worth $50-$60 million; that same year, the Knicks finish with the franchise worst record of 23-59 before firing Brown with four years left on his contract. The Knicks later reached a $18.5 million settlement with Brown, but still they paid him millions for nothing.
And let’s not forget the 2003 Stephon Marbury homecoming disaster where he spent five seasons arguing with the Knicks coach Brown and Mike D’Antoni before agreeing to a buyout for over $18 million.
Most recently, in 2016, the Knicks signed Joakim Noah to a four-year, $72 million contract that they regretted. Noah only played 53 games in his two seasons with the Knicks and was once suspended 20 games for using performance-enhancing drugs before agreeing to a three-year, $37.8 million buyout.
Now after years of making bad deals and wasting millions on buyouts; the Knicks have part ways with Porzingis who had become tired of losing and witnessing what he believed to be the mistreatment of his teammate Enes Kanter.
The Knicks with their $73 million in cap space, are betting on landing a top free agent or two like the Kyrie Irving or the Kevin Durant who will be available, among other big names, this summer.
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If the New York Knicks land the top pick in the draft, they likely would select Duke sensation Zion Williamson, which would be a big help in landing a top free agent. Either way, the Knicks are in a good position right now. They have a lot of money to spend, likely will land a top 5 draft pick and every agent wants their star client to play in a big city like New York.