NY Knicks ship Carmelo to Thunder
It’s a testament to the low level of regard the Knicks hold for erstwhile top dog Carmelo Anthony that they agreed to trade him to the Thunder for what amounts to pennies to the dollar. In taking back Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a future draft choice, they all but acknowledged that they were going for addition by subtraction; no doubt, they would have been willing to let go of him for nothing — which is to say short of shelling out a significant sum to effect a buyout.
Granted, the Knicks received pieces seen to be complementary to their plan to give 2015 fourthoverall pick Kristaps Porzingis the keys to the franchise. In Enes Kanter, they get an offensive force who averaged a shade over 14 points in just 21 minutes of exposure per game last season. Doug McDermott was National Player of the Year just prior to turning professional three years ago. The 2018 second- round selection, meanwhile, comes via the Bulls, who figure to finish low on the totem pole in the upcoming season.
On the other hand, there can be no glossing over the negatives of the Knicks’ haul. For one thing, Kanter plays defense in a manner that would make James Harden blush, hence the glaring inability to stay on the court in the crunch. For another, McDermott failed to post better numbers while toiling for the top-heavy Thunder, speaking volumes of his limited potential. And then there’s the draft pick, which couldn’t even be bettered; pro hoops annals are littered with more second-round busts than surprises.
That said, the Knicks do get to start anew by bidding Anthony goodbye. In his wake, they can legitimately lay the groundwork for a turnaround starring Porzingis, who didn’t care for the circus that laced their passive-aggressive stance against their former cornerstone. In short, they were able to accelerate their reboot, a precious first step in their intent to coax back otherwise-loyal fans who soured on them and stayed away during the tumultuous Phil Jackson Era.
How the latest development affects the Knicks’ relationship with Porzingis is anybody’s guess. He skipped exit interviews and issued public statements that indicated his disenchantment with the way things were going, so, if nothing else, the seeming end to the drama looks to be good news for him. At the same time, he should see his ascent to the top of the pecking order in the National Basketball Association’s biggest market as a challenge. With Anthony out, it’s his time to shine. The opportunity cost the Knicks on paper. Whether it will also hit them on the court is up to him.
How the latest development affects the Knicks’ relationship with Porzingis is anybody’s guess. He skipped exit interviews and issued public statements that indicated his disenchantment with the way things were going, so, if nothing else, the seeming end to the drama looks to be good news for him. At the same time, he should see his ascent to the top of the pecking order in the National Basketball Association’s biggest market as a challenge.