When supposed unicorn Kristaps Porziņģis was sent packing in February 2019, not a few quarters believed the Knicks got the better end of the deal that netted them Dennis Smith, Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and two first-round picks. And even as they had to part ways with Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Courtney Lee in the process, massive contracts went along with the move. In other words, the stage was set for a bright future. Gone was a disgruntled, injury-prone, would-be star, and in his place stood promising assets seen to jump-start a long-in-coming rebuild.
Fast forward to the present, and it’s clear that the Knicks have runner-up honors in the two-way trade. Smith was a bust, and now plies his trade for the Pistons. Jordan bolted for the Nets. Matthew’s played a grand total of one game in blue and orange. And who knows how draft picks will ultimately fare? For all the continued brittleness of Porziņģis’ body and the price tag that Hardaway commands, the outcome cannot be questioned: the Mavericks cannot but be happy with what they got, and continue to get. They competed strongly in the bubble last year, and now appear to be in a good position to avoid the dangerous and unpredictable play-in tournament.
The Knicks aren’t crying over spilled milk, however, because they like where they are — which is where they most certainly would not be had they held on to Porziņģis. They may have taken a step backward with the daylight fleecing, but they’re definitely two steps ahead in the face of their outstanding showing heading into the last sixth of the 2020-21 season. At fourth in the East and holders of a remarkable nine-outing win streak, they stand a good chance of formalizing their status as the biggest surprise of the National Basketball Association.
Not that the Knicks consider their performance to be out of the ordinary. To the contrary, they’ve had reason to hold their heads high; under the tutelage of head coach Tom Thibodeau, they sport a brand of defense that is relentless in purpose, not to mention a style of offense that is deliberate by nature. The latter is anchored on the sterling showing of first-time All-Star Julius Randle, whose significant improvement in shooting range and accuracy — and, most importantly, playmaking — propels their competitiveness.
Whether or not the Knicks’ in-your-face approach from start to finish is sustainable remains to be seen. Thibodeau has a well-deserved reputation as a turnaround artist, but is also bogged down by diminishing returns over time. Nonetheless, there can be no discounting the strides they have made, with such proven disciples as Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson making solid contributions. If nothing else, they’ll be a tough out in the playoffs, their unique mix of self-assurance and resolve making them greater than the sum of their parts.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
