Knicks fans don’t have much to look forward to this season. Outside of the development of Kristaps Porzingis, Madison Square Garden will be filled with disappointment and despair yet again. Yet a beacon of hope has been raised recently. Kyrie Irving shook up the NBA landscape with reports that the former #1 overall pick wants away from LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Links immediately surfaced between Irving and the Knicks. Oddsmakers currently have the Knickerbockers at second favorites to have the four-time All-Star on their roster by the start of the season. I hate to be the bearer of bad news though. Knicks fans are about to feel that familiar feeling yet again. Kyrie isn’t coming folks.
It is simply a matter of asset management. New York’s front office has done nothing but submarine the value of all of their prized players. It doesn’t help that they are so desperate to include the abomination that is Joakim Noah‘s contract in every deal. But most of all, their treatment of Carmelo Anthony is the main reason they won’t be able to procure Kyrie Irving.
Carmelo Anthony has been a focal point of the Knicks in both good and bad ways over the last two seasons. On the court, Melo has been a consummate professional. Sure, he can be a black hole on the offensive end, but you cannot say with a straight face that Anthony has dogged it in recent times. He’s been their offensive talisman and taken loads of pressure off the shoulders of Kristaps Porzingis. But the since deposed Phil Jackson made one of his most valuable commodities near worthless.
It is an easy principle to understand. If you are trying to get rid of something, whether it be an All-Star or your collegiate dorm futon, you try to build it up rather than breaking it down. Yet time and time again Anthony saw himself painted as a pariah by the front office for wanting an exit.
Now, where does Kyrie Irving’s situation intertwine with the Anthony debacle at the Garden? Well, since there is zero chance that Cleveland takes Noah off their hands, Carmelo Anthony’s contract is the only one that comes close to matching up with Irving’s. But he has made it abundantly clear he wants to go to Houston. Would he waive his no-trade clause to go to another dysfunctional club in the Cavs? Is one season with LeBron James worth the inevitable rebuild that is imminent? I personally don’t think it is in the cards.
According to a plethora of outlets, the Knicks are one of the clubs who’ve made formal offers to Cleveland. Kyrie himself has said he wants to be a New York Knick. None of that matters. We’ve already had one want away saga this summer as proof. Paul George wanted to be a Los Angeles Laker. The Lakers had the assets to get a deal done. There were Eastern Conference teams that put forth tremendous offerings as well. In the end, Indiana cut off their nose to spite their face with George. They took the offer they wanted and sent him to a team they chose. I feel Kyrie Irving is going to suffer a similar fate.
I want to believe that the point guard is MSG bound. I’ve just been given too many instances over time that prove the contrarian opinion. Kyrie isn’t coming. Get on that train now and save yourself the future heartbreak.