What’s next for Knicks?
Key summer dates as season mercifully winds down
The Knicks never were going to contend for the playoffs this season — the only suspense to be found was in how long they could manage to pretend to. Not long, it turned out. During the final week of the season, when other teams around the league are jostling for a spot in the tournament or a higher seed, the Knickerbockers are playing only to avoid registering the very worst campaign in franchise history.
Rather than dwell on record-setting futility, let’s instead look ahead to the dates that really do matter for
the Knicks. Here’s a calendar of the important dates this offseason, by which to schedule anticipation, dread and appropriate periods of mourning.
May 14, 2019: DRAFT LOTTERY
If the standings hold firm, the Knicks will have the worst record in the NBA. In every other season of the last 29 years, that would’ve meant the greatest odds of winning the first overall pick. Not anymore. To discourage tanking, the lottery was reformed for 2019 so that the bottom three teams all have a 14 percent chance of winning. Further, the overall advantage of finishing at or near the bottom was reduced, and the teams that barely missed the playoffs saw their odds increase. So anything is possible.
IF the Knicks do end up with the worst record, the odds breaks down as such: 1st pick: 14% 2nd pick: 13.4% 3rd pick: 12.7% 4th pick: 12% 5th pick: 47.9% Landing No. 1 means Zion Williamson. But getting a top-3 is also significant since there’s a drop-off in prospects after Williamson, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett.
June 20, 2019: ALLONZO TRIER DECISION
According to basketballinsiders.com, this is the deadline on Trier’s $3.55 million contract option, and depending on the summer plans it might be pivotal to free up that money for cap space. It’s also fair to wonder whether the Knicks can get Trier on a smaller contract as a free agent. Trier’s contract was lauded as a home run for the Knicks when he signed as an undrafted free agent, but $3.55 million is the rate for an eighth overall pick. Trier, 23, is a pleasant surprise, but not worth the same as the eighth pick. June 20, 2019: DRAFT DAY
Forget about who the Knicks actually draft. They need to upgrade every position, so their only philosophy should be ‘best available.’ It’s also a big night for trades, and the Knicks have options to explore. Namely, whether or not they should give up their pick for Anthony Davis. Or separately, should they deal Frank Ntilikina at probably his lowest value? If Ntilikina continues on his current trajectory, the Knicks may not be able to recoup anything for the Frenchman once next season begins.
July 1, 2019: FREE AGENCY BEGINS
This is the most significant summer for the Knicks in almost a decade. You know, the year of LeBron’s Decision. The team has enough cap space to sign two max free agents, and continue as the frontrunners to land Kevin Durant. Can Durant change his agent’s plotted course and sign elsewhere – whether back in Golden State or with the Clippers? Absolutely. That creates the high drama. Because if Durant doesn’t sign, the plan is a failure. Plain and simple. Kyrie Irving isn’t saving the Knicks from the pit by himself. Neither is Kemba Walker or Jimmy Butler. It’s all about Durant. If he signs, the Knicks are immediately cast into a win-now mode. If he doesn’t, the Knicks will sell the fanbase another season of ‘culturebuilding.’
Oct. 31, 2019: FRANK NTILIKINA CONTRACT OPTION
We’re skipping a lot to reach this point, including a Summer League with or without Zion Williamson, training camp with or without Kevin Durant and the start of a regular season with or without aspirations for contention. But if Ntilikina is still on the roster, Halloween will be significant because the Knicks have to decide whether to cut ties and let him become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. That would also mean they couldn’t trade him. For perspective, 2015 draft picks Mario Hezonja (fifth overall) and Jahlil Okafor (third overall) did not have their contracts picked up for their respective fourth seasons.