Remember how the New York Knicks, with a revitalized Carmelo Anthony and new hotness Kristaps Porzingis, were looking competent and confident about their playoff chances? Well, that’s all over and done with. After losing nine of 10 games, they fired head coach Derek Fisher and reportedly are hoping to make serious moves before the trade deadline.
Speaking to reporters in the wake of the Fisher firing, Jackson admitted that only Anthony — who has a full no-trade clause — and Porzingis are untouchable in trade talks. Everyone else could be potentially moved, with the most likely target being a point guard — though talks for Jeff Teague never went anywhere.
The biggest obstacle for a Knicks trade is the same reason they seem desperate to make a win-now move: Their lack of a first-round pick this year thanks to that still-inexplicable trade for Andrea Bargnani. Outside of Porzingis, the Knicks don’t have any young assets with much value. Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant, their two young guards, don’t seem to move the needle for anyone around the league. Solid veterans like Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez are probably worth more to New York than anywhere else, so it’s tough to see where a major deal could happen.
Phil Jackson must be happy the trade deadline is coming up, because without that source of news and gossip, all the focus would be on how difficult it will be to find a permanent replacement for Derek Fisher who is both competent and willing to subscribe completely to the triangle offense. Even with the trade discussion, Phil’s getting hammered for his reliance on the triangle and its negative effect on the Knicks’ development.
Jackson proved this past offseason that he can be a competent executive when it comes to player acquisition; Porzingis, Afflalo and Lopez have been the biggest engines for New York’s improvement despite the recent slide. He’ll have to hope that he can find something more on that side, because his staffing acumen is coming under serious fire.
(Via ESPN)
