After winning the trade deadline, is winning it all a must?
If they don't win it all, then what?
ESPN said what?!?!
The New York Knicks have been declared “trade deadline winners” by the NBA Today crew, where the Knicks obtained Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdonovic from the Detroit Pistons and traded Evan Fournier (who should be happy his time in purgatory is over) and Ryan Arcidiacono (a Nova guy?), Malachi Flynn (WaLuigi just got here) and Quentin Grimes. Only Miles McBride and Jericho Sims remain as part of the youth crew.
ESPN can’t stop talking about the Knicks now in glowing terms when they were a joke a short season ago.
Is winning now a must?
You better believe it is a must. The Knicks traded five players aged 23 to 25 and traded them for two young players and two older players. Precious Achiuwa is 24 and O.G. Anunoby is 26. They’re the youngest to join the Knicks. Precious is a genuine gem on the team, but Anunoby has been out for the past five games. It was announced after (right after) the trade deadline ended that he had shoulder surgery. Looking over his injury history, I must say I’m concerned. Anunoby is 26 and has played only 368 games out of 492 in his short career.
What’s with Anunoby’s injuries?
First and foremost, let’s understand that the Knicks’ number one defensive rating came after getting OG. He is a defensive juggernaut desperately needed by the team, but they need him to play. Now, Anunoby is out for what we finally know are bone fragments, and he had surgery. The timetable for his return is three weeks. The injuries that concern me are those that had him miss so much playing time.
2020-21 season played 43 games - calf injury
2021-22 season played 48 games - hip injury
2022-23 season played 67 games - unspecified injuries
This young man and Achiuwa are why the Knicks may have won the trade deadline, but a 32 and 34-year-old will help until their regulars return. What happens then? Who will remain in the rotation? These are answers that remain to be seen.
Have the Knicks sold their future?
Yes, in my opinion. I know that’s not a very popular one. But I’m reminded of 2012 and the Knicks run that ended in the second round. All of that talent, and only the second round to show for it: Melo, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, JR Smith, Iman Shumpert, Marcus Camby, Raymond Felton, Chris Copeland, Jason Kidd, (my favorite) Kenyon Martin, and, of course, Steve Novak.
Then Phil Jackson came in and cleaned the house. Triangle offense or bust, and the most promising prospect we had since, I don’t know when, Kristaps Porzingis and everyone around him were gone, including Carmelo Anthony. Some, except Anthony and Porzingis, have gotten Championship rings since then.
I won’t go into that awful time. The Knicks were going to build from the draft and free agency. Then came 2018 and Mitchell Robinson, who is the longest-tenured Knick. The following year…no, not going through the whole charade of rebuilding through the draft and free agency. Robinson, Julius Randle, McBride, and Sims are all that’s left of that. Which brings us back to the Knicks at least getting to the Finals…a freaking must. If not, we’re back to the Phil Jackson time because, rest assured, the house will be cleaned. It’s the Knicks way.
Where it stands today
Today, the Knicks have the strongest team on paper. Unfortunately, at the moment, all starters except Donte DiVincenzo are out due to injury. The Knicks play the Indiana Pacers tonight, and that is a team no Knicks fan wants to lose to. Can Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic help the shorthanded Knicks get a win tonight? Going forward? I know questions have been raised about Bogdanovic’s defense. We’re just going to have to sit back and wait and see.
One thing I do know: When Mitchell Robinson gets back…the Knicks will be not only the best defensive team but also the scariest.
Miss Tee on Basketball around the league
Chile…
The Lakers were trade deadline losers because they didn’t make a move.
The Mavericks whipped OKC this afternoon defeating them 146-111. The Maverick’s new players, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, made big impressions.
The Raptors defeated the Houston Rockets 107-104. IQ led the way with 25 points; RJ was next with 21. The Raptors acquired Kelly Olynyk and Ochai
Agbaji at the deadline. They’re going to have a nice squad in Toronto.
Knicks vs Pacers are about to start, so…
Until next time…