ESOMKnicks wrote:homeskillitprigioni wrote:The picks have limited value with both being in the future and being for a team that's going to have Doncic and Porzingis and a great shot at keeping him. This deal is obviously because they think they can get 2 stars this summer, which I don't really believe. But from a value perspective...this deal is incredibly horrific. Basically an assortment of mediocre pieces for a potential franchise player.
But if you look at it another way, Dallas essentially has done what we have always criticized the Knicks for: they mortgaged their future for a borderline superstar with uncertain prospects of full recovery from a serious injury. Still, I wish we'd get a greater haul for KP. Maybe the AD situation messed up our plans, with teams dropping out of KP talks to focus on AD.
True, but in this case its a 22 year old budding star with a game unlike most players in the league. Granted, it remains to be seen if he can go back to being that. But even a 70% Porzingis is great for Dallas, who took advantage of this situation because their latest draft pick, Doncic, proved to be the potential surefire superstar they were hoping for.
In our case, McDyess comes to mind in the situation you described, but in that case, all our eggs were being put in him being the savior. Carmelo didn't have the injury concern when he was acquired, but he was older and the fir with Amar'e was always put in question.
In the end, this is also a great risk for Dallas. If Porzingis isn't the player he was in NY or if he does bolt after next season, suddenly this is a suspect trade because of the bad contracts they got. Their play is the Doncic-Porzingis pairing, which on paper is truly promising. Doncic is already a one-of-a-kind exciting player suddenly pairing with the dubbed unicorn of the NBA. Best case scenario is truly amazing, especially if you then consider that Hardaway Jr. will be their third wheel, which fits him greatly, and Lee and Burke are nice pieces off the bench.
Honestly, from the NY side, this isn't really all about the 2 stars in the summer. Media and fans will say it because that gives them a tangible way to explain this move. But in all honesty, this seems like the Knicks had monitored the Porzingis situation from weeks or months ago, saw a toxic situation brewing and did their best to keep it quiet so they could get a deal on their own without the process leaking to the media and affecting their end result, amassing as many assets as they could (cap space, young players and picks) while giving them flexibility in the future. They knew this would affect their rebuilding immensely because Porzingis was their centerpiece and face of the franchise, so no matter how you see it, moving him has a seismic impact on their plans.
They did their best to make this a move that keeps changing the culture: it was a move that was consummated so quickly that nobody can say this was the toxic, turmoil-filled transaction of past management teams. They did accomplish that.
The move didn't bring a sexy name or a bunch of lottery picks for this year's draft, which is why most of us fans don't think is a slam dunk, especially for who had become the face of our franchise. And if some actually expected us to be relevant as early as next season, this is truly a bucket of cold water throw over you. The rebuilding doesn't have an endgame anymore. Anything can happen and nothing is a given. Being relevant as soon as next season means everything that could go right did go right, and that has never been the Knicks way.
Porzingis, even as the health-wise question mark he was going to be when he returned, represented the closest thing we had to a franchise player and future star. He was a building block and face of our rebuilding. His departure leaves us in the most vulnerable position we have been in years. Vulnerable because of the uncertainty, but don't confuse that with being powerless. The Knicks are armed with the best weapons a rebuilding team can have: young players with potential, expiring contracts and draft picks. And the most important: a clean slate. The Knicks CAN ACTUALLY go any direction they chose to. Summer can go by without them signing a free agent. It really can. They don't have a star to set a timetable for contention. Their youngsters are raw yet.
The Knicks are in control. Most of you will fret that. Media will use that to mock and predict the end of days. And fortune could still make things tougher. But Knicks management can keep a steady pace towards true cultural and business change, even if it happens later than originally expected.
2/1/2019 8:20 AM