Conventional wisdom says New York Knicks coach David Fizdale would be among the biggest critics of Thursday's shocking trade that shipped Kristaps Porzingis out the Big Apple.
After all, Fizdale, in his first season roaming the Knicks' sideline, surely took the job last summer under the assumption that Porzingis was an integral cog of the team's future. On Friday, though, Fizdale struck a different tone, expressing implicit empathy for Porzingis' desire to play elsewhere while acknowledging the layered benefits of the trade package New York received from the Dallas Mavericks.
David Fizdale said Kristaps Porzingis thought that he needed a fresh start. Fizdale said he likes the players New York got, but also pointed out that the Knicks cleared $30-million plus — not sure I’ve ever heard a coach note that aspect of a trade before.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 1, 2019
Fizdale first made his name with the Miami Heat at the top of the decade, as Erik Spoelstra's top lieutenant during the LeBron James era. His well-earned reputation as a player's coach makes it no surprise he would see why the Knicks decision-making brass deemed it most prudent to honor Porzingis' need for a “fresh start.”
Fizdale's appraisal of the players heading to New York warrants more scrutiny, though. It's likely both DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews will be bought out before season's end, leaving high-flying guard Dennis Smith, Jr. as the Knicks' only workable piece acquired in the trade.
But his acknowledgment of additional cap space created by shedding the salaries of Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Courtney Lee in the deal is indeed notable. Might Fizdale know something we don't with regard to the Knicks' hopes of adding two max-level free agents this summer? Perhaps, or maybe he's just toeing the company line, stressing the benefits of trading a player who fans once whole-heartedly believed would return their long-suffering team to glory.
Only time will tell.
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