For the first time in almost two decades, the New York Knicks are actually set up pretty well for the future. They have a nice stable of young talent, they actually own all of their draft picks for a change and they are going to have cap space this summer.
When was the last time the Knicks had all of those things?
New York's new front office has done a fine job of accumulating talent over the last year or so, and former executive Phil Jackson deserves some credit for drafting Kristaps Porzingis (although the less said about his free-agent signings and trades, the better).
Still, while the Knicks are in good shape going forward, there are some steps they can take at the trade deadline to put themselves in an even better position entering the summer of 2019.
Here are a few things they can do:
3. Start Consolidating
The Knicks have a lot of young players at a lot of different positions. For example, they have Emmanuel Mudiay, Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina at point guard. They have Tim Hardaway Jr., Allonzo Trier, Damyean Dotson and sometimes Mario Hezonja at shooting guard.
And etc.
Given the amount of players aiming for playing time that New York has, it may be time for the team to start consolidating and identifying who it really wants to be a part of the core moving forward.
Guys like Hardaway, Trier and Ntikilina seem like givens. Hardaway has actually been really good this year, Trier has been a surprising stud and while Ntilikina has struggled, he is still just 20 years old and has great defensive chops.
That could mean that guys like Mudiay, Burke and Hezonja could be available.
As a matter of fact, the Knicks should look to move at least two of those guys, with Burke probably having the most value to a contender.
It's time for New York to start opening up more playing time for its top young players.
2. Try to Move Courtney Lee
Lee began the year with injury issues, and now that he is healthy, he finds himself out of the rotation.
The veteran guard has been a good soldier throughout the entire process, providing mentorship to the Knicks youngsters and staying ready in case of a trade.
Now, dealing Lee might be difficult, as he has nearly $25 million remaining on his contract between this year and next year, but when healthy, he is a solid two-way player who can hit the three-ball and defend a couple of positions on the other end of the floor.
There will surely be some contenders that will poke around to see what the Knicks are asking for in return for lee (maybe the Philadelphia 76ers?), but the key for New York will be dealing Lee without taking on any salary beyond this season.
That will be somewhat of a tall order, but given Lee's experience and his versatility, it will certainly be a lot easier than trading Enes Kanter.
Perhaps the Knicks can find a deal that will land them an expiring contract and a second-round draft pick, opening up even more cap space for them this summer and adding another asset in the process.
1. Keep Losing
That probably doesn't sound right on the surface. After all, who likes to lose? But for the Knicks, losing for the rest of this season absolutely beneits them in the long run.
New York absolutely has a shot at the No. 1 overall pick this summer, meaning it will have a chance of landing Duke phenom Zion Williamson.
The last time the Knicks landed the No. 1 overall selection in the draft was all the way back in 1985, when they selected none other than Patrick Ewing and changed the course of their franchise for the next decade-and-a-half.
Williamson is considered a can't-miss talent, and if New York were to have the opportunity to draft him, the franchise would go from complete laughing-stock to legitimate threat moving forward in a heartbeat.
The goal for the Knicks should be the future. Owner James Dolan can say whatever he wants about the team not tanking, but the fact of the matter is that New York is currently 10-33, so the Knicks are basically tanking even if they aren't trying.
Plus, what is Dolan going to say? Come right out and admit that New York is intentionally attempting to lose basketball games? Not even Dolan is that aloof.
Right now, the Knicks seem to actually have a plan in place: develop young talent, get Porzingis healthy and hope to land a big-name free agent. Now, throw Williamson into that picture. Looks pretty good, doesn't it?
So yeah. Keep losing, Knicks. You're better off if you do.
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