As of Tuesday, the Knicks have a 10-42 record. They got off
to the worst start in franchise history earlier in the year. The team has
sorely underachieved ever since winning two titles in the early seventies.
Despite improvement a few years ago, the team is as bad as ever, and the owner
is primarily to blame.
It was extremely puzzling when the Knicks signed Carmelo
Anthony to a five-year deal for $124 million over the offseason. The max deal
would have been worth $129 million. Not only did the Knicks give Anthony a max
deal in essence, but it included an uncommon no trade clause. He is averaging
24.2 points per game, but only 3.1 assists. He does not make his teammates
better, and the no trade clause means the team is stuck with him as long as he
wants to be there. This is ridiculous, since Carmelo does not appear to be a
foundational player. Once again, the Knicks shoot themselves in the foot by
offering someone an unreasonable contract.
Owner James Dolan has built up a reputation for being far
too meddlesome with the team for years now. Dolan has a pattern of overspending
for a coach/GM, stepping on his toes, firing him, and then paying him copious amounts
of money afterward. Phil Jackson signed a contract worth nearly $12 million a
year. Jackson will get at least three years to turn the team around, but Dolan
is still part of the decision making process to a degree. It cannot be proven,
but I firmly believe Dolan made Jackson resign Carmelo. Jackson made a strong
stance about Anthony making sacrifices when he first took over, but his tune
changed rather abruptly. Jackson also wanted Steve Kerr to be his coach, but
Dolan lowballed the offer. Derek Fisher has struggled, but neither he nor
Jackson is the problem right now.
It was obvious at the end of last year that a transformation
was necessary. Phil has made two rebuilding moves in trading Tyson Chandler and
Raymond Felton to Dallas, as well as sending J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to
Cleveland. I cannot blame Phil for getting rid of those guys, since they all
needed to leave New York to find new life. I am confused that Jackson could now
extract a single first round pick in these trades, especially since he did not
get one legitimate player back. Letting Carmelo walk would have went in line with
the rebuild perfectly. Keeping him shows a lack of a real plan by everyone
involved.
If it is true that Melo has been sitting out games so he can
be healthy for the All-Star Game, then he is done being a real star in the
league. WFAN’s Craig Carton has said all year that Melo would make sure he was
healthy for the London and All-Star games, and then would shut it down after.
We will see if this true pretty soon, but I almost expect it. All Anthony has
talked about over the last year is his brand or being an ambassador for New
York. He should be threatening his teammates because he is livid at how bad
they are. He does not hold teammates or himself accountable the way an alleged
superstar should.
James Dolan made headlines for the wrong reasons earlier in the
week. He responded to an unsavory email, writing that the initiator is an
alcoholic and should go root for the Nets. This circumstance would be bad at
any time, but it is magnified by how awful the product is. It is shocking that
Dolan would even acknowledge this email, showing that he is incapable of
dealing with his current reality. There is no solution in sight if Dolan
continues his intrusive ways. This upcoming offseason is critical for Phil
Jackson, because the team will have a ton of cap space for the first time in
awhile. It is a small positive that they signed ex D-Leaguers Langston Galloway
and Lance Thomas for the rest of the year. The only way Jackson can assemble
the roster he wants is if Dolan gives him 100% control. Even though that is
happening theoretically, lets hope it does for real.
