The New York Knicks have been a flat-out disaster since the beginning of the Phil Jackson regime. With Jackson now gone, the team is still feeling the effects after an unsettling offseason regarding two of their biggest superstars in forwards Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
Despite their recent struggles, the Knicks still have arguably two of the top players at their position. While Anthony may have been the top dog in the Big Apple since Porzingis' arrival, it seems the latter may have taken over as the new sheriff in town heading into 2017-18 NBA season, according to Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney:
He must do a much better job defending without fouling, he must continue to scale his usage and scoring towards alpha status (especially if Carmelo Anthony is traded), and he must get through a full season without being sidelined for significant time with nagging health issues. After missing 10 games his rookie season and 16 last year, Porzingis currently trails other premier young bigs like Karl-Anthony Towns and Nikola Jokic from a dependability standpoint. Knocks aside, a maturing and tantalizing Porzingis is clearly ready for his shot at being The Man. — BG
Porzingis finished four spots ahead of Anthony on the list at No. 33. His designation should not come as too much of a surprise when one considers the looming situation in New York.
Although both were involved in several trade rumors this offseason, it is apparent that Anthony's days as a Knick are numbered. This will leave Porzingis in the driver's seat for the league's most valuable franchise.
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