Big offseason
Free-agency key to make Porzingis trade worth it
NEW YORK — After ripping Knicks fans’ hearts directly from their chests this past January, New York’s front office had one message: Wait for free agency.
The Knicks shipped Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in what amounted to a salary dump, which led fans to believe the light at the end of the tunnel was the 2019 free agency class.
At least that’s what the their owner said.
James Dolan went on ESPN New York Radio broadcasting that, “We hear from people all the time, from players, representatives. It’s about who wants to come. We can’t respond because of the NBA rules, but that doesn’t stop them from telling us and they do.”
“I can tell you from what we’ve heard I think we’re going to have a very successful offseason when it comes to free agents.”
With Dolan publicly stating he’s been told that marquee free agents desire the bright lights of New York, this eased the blow of losing a player of Porzingis stature. That was in March.
The Knicks’ number one target, Kevin Durant, was widely believed to be a lock to sign with the Knicks. Then he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the Finals, and he is expected to miss all of the 2019-20 season. It’s an injury that has ruined careers.
Other rumored Knicks’ targets seem to be moving differently than Dolan’s words suggested.
Kyrie Irving seems to be heading to the Brooklyn Nets, Anthony Davis is essentially packing his bags for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kemba Walker has given every indication that he plans on staying put with the Charlotte Hornets, even at a hometown discount. Klay Thompson isn’t going anywhere.
Now that things appear to be heading in the opposite direction of the road that Dolan pointed to, it’s time to truly question the Knicks and their decision making in January.
If the Knicks don’t do what was essentially guaranteed by their owner by spending a significant portion of that $72 million in cap space on superstarlevel players this summer, then what exactly did they receive in exchange for Porzingis?
The full trade was Porzingis, Tim Hardaway, Courtney Lee and Trey Burke for Dennis Smith Jr, an unprotected f i r strounder in 2021, a protected first-rounder in 2023, and the expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews.
If the Knicks sign both Durant and one of their other targets, they could state the fact that this trade was made in order to build a championship contending team immediately. If they hold that cap space and try to roll it into next season, then they essentially traded Porzingis for pennies on the dollar.
It will be hard to sell this deal if the Knicks are rooting for ping pong balls again next May.
Cap space isn’t exactly permanent either. Believe it or not, the Knicks have to put together a team moving forward. New York has just six guaranteed contracts on their roster for next season, including the third-overall pick.
They will be adding salary no matter what, as high first-round picks have guaranteed deals that pay enough to eat into cap space, and any free agent worth signing will want more than one year on their deal.
The Knicks must act quickly and wisely if they don’t want this deal to blow up in their face.
There were many alternative routes that General Manager Scott Perry and President Steve Mills could have taken. First, they could’ve called Porzingis bluff and kept him on their roster.
The other option for the Knicks would have been gauging the interest of teams around the league for Porzingis and dealing him in a package that maximizes his value.