Knicks must follow Warriors’ blueprint for success
OAKLAND − The coach Phil Jackson originally wanted to hire in New York has now guided the Golden State Warriors to a second NBA title by playing a style Jackson has been reluctant to embrace. How’s it going? I would think pretty darn good for Steve Kerr and the rest of the Warriors.
They are champions again and better than ever. Kevin Durant, who did not grant the Knicks a free agent meeting last summer, validated his move to the Bay Area by being named NBA Finals MVP and positioning the Warriors to rule the league for the next few seasons.
So it’s only natural for Jackson and the Knicks to feel somewhat helpless. Except for Cleveland and San Antonio the rest of the league feels the same way.
But there is hope for a better future, even for the Knicks. It just may take awhile.
The Warriors impressive run — they went 16-1 in the playoffs and won 31 of their last 33 games overall — culminated with a Game 5 victory over Cleveland on Monday and sparked talk of a dynasty. Golden State’s core players are all under 30 and are expected to be under contract for at least two more years. The Warriors are just getting started.
They have established a blueprint for teams such as Jackson’s Knicks to follow; build through the draft, place a high emphasis on player development and maintain salary cap flexibility for that day when a franchise changing talent like Durant becomes available.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all drafted by the Warriors. It’s a home grown team that made themselves attractive enough to lure a transformative superstar in Durant by satisfying his hunger pangs for a ring.
The media and the fans helped create this new world of judging superstars by the rings on their fingers. LeBron James started the movement seven years ago and Durant took it to an extreme level. It’s Super Team or bust.
Jackson tried the quick fix and failed miserably. It took a few years and a lot of losing but the Zen Master seems to gets it. The road to long term success and stability is a to rebuild. Really rebuild.
Go young and wait for LeBron and the Warriors to get old. Hey, that strategy is working for the Boston Celtics.
To make it work for the Knicks it would mean not re-signing free agent point guard Derrick Rose unless he’s willing to sign for one year. More importantly, it’s finding a safe landing spot for Carmelo Anthony.
Jackson isn’t wrong to want to part ways with his best player. The Knicks and Melo are no longer a good match. One is rebuilding, the other is hanging onto his prime years for dear life.
The way Jackson has gone about it is certainly unbecoming but his ultimate goal makes sense. And that’s where LeBron comes in. LeBron, after averaging a triple-double in the NBA Finals, says he will spend the summer figuring out ways to beat the Warriors.
“They’re going to be around for a while,” James said. “Pretty much all their big-name guys are in their 20s, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down . ... In my eyes, they’re built to last a few years.”
The Cavs are still a terrific team and with the right move they could dethrone Golden State next June. The series was closer than 4-1. It ultimately turned in Game 3 when Cleveland was outscored 11-0 in the final 2:48. If the Cavs win that game and take Game 4, the series would be headed back to Cleveland for a Game 6 as opposed to Golden State preparing for Thursday’s parade.
The Cavs have a lot going for them. LeBron is the most dominant player in the game and Kyrie Irving is a brilliant offensive player. Sure, Kevin Love struggled in Game 5 but overall he had a good series.
The Cavs are expected to take a run at Indiana’s Paul George but a trade, which would have to include Love, is complicated.
The more plausible target is Anthony either through a trade or the less likely scenario where Melo and the Knicks agree to a buyout. If that where to happen Carmelo becomes an unrestricted free agent. He’s always wanted to play with LeBron so there you go.
Scoring is not necessarily an issue for Cleveland but in order to keep pace with the Warriors in this series LeBron had to play extended minutes. Carmelo’s presence would alleviate some of the pressure on LeBron.
Warriors sixth man Andre Iguodala was the Finals MVP in 2015 and was outstanding in Game 5. Carmelo, nowhere near the defender as Iguodala, could serve a similar role for the Cavs.
A few months ago Carmelo sounded insulted when he was asked about taking on such a role for a contending team but LeBron could convince him of all the perks, including a likely spot in next year’s NBA Finals.
Against the Warriors, of course, for the fourth straight year.
The Knicks are in no position to challenge the likes of Golden State and Cleveland. Phil knows this. That’s why he’s changed gears and is taking the slow approach. The quick fix is a self-defeating strategy,
Too bad Jackson didn’t realize this when he first took over and signed Carmelo to a long term extension with a no-trade clause. It was a mistake.
But there’s still time to make things right for Anthony and the Knicks. Jackson has Kristaps Porzingis and the eighth pick of next week’s NBA Draft.
And he’s got time. The Warriors are here to stay for a while. James, 32, is under contract through next season so the Cavs could change dramatically after next year. The Knicks just need to be patient and smart. For once.