Our Unicorn is gone. It took just a few hours for Kristaps Porzingis to meet with the New York Knicks, express his frustration with the team’s direction, and become the headliner of a blockbuster trade. If you’re still struggling with the fact that KP is gone, I’ve laid out the path to acceptance for you …
Denial
Porzingis wants to play for a winner in New York, but is searching for clarity on his future role with the team and Knicks direction. Porzingis — out with an ACL injury — can be a restricted free agent this summer. https://t.co/JtZzQ02FCI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
Kristaps Porzingis left the Knicks with the impression that he prefers to be traded, league sources tell @ramonashelburne and me. Knicks are expected to commence discussions on moving him ahead of next Thursday's deadline.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
“This can’t be true. They’re blowing it out of proportion for clicks. Kristaps Porzingis is the franchise cornerstone of the Knicks there’s no way the team is doing everything they can to make him happy.”
I shouted this at anybody that would listen. I’m not sure if I truly believed it myself. I just couldn’t allow KP’s time with the Knicks to end like this. Not while he’s rehabbing an ACL tear.
Not when we have the money to put another star next to him during free agency. Not when we ave a young core of role players like Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Allonzo Trier to play off our two stars next year. Not when we’re all but guaranteed a top 5 draft pick in one of the most exciting drafts of recent history.
Then …
New York has agreed with Dallas on trade that includes Kristaps Porzingis, Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr., for Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr. and DeAndre Jordan, league sources tell ESPN. Players and agents are being notified of particulars. Deal may include more draft assets.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
Anger
“This is absolute horses@*% I’m going to dedicate my life to making sure that every single person in the Knicks organization is shot out of a cannon into Phil Jackson’s world of former basketball executives who can never be hired again!”
I actually yelled that to my coworker from my cubicle. I lost it. I completely lost it. The one good thing the Knicks have had since Patrick Ewing was suddenly traded away in a bad contract dump and for a player that was initially passed on. Just days ago, talk surrounded whether they should include Porzingis in a trade for Anthony Davis. Then Anthony Davis turned into Dennis Smith Jr, Wes Matthews, and DeAndre Jordan.
It’s completely ridiculous. The incompetence that permeates every facet of decision making from those with the highest authority is mind-numbingly present at all times. (This, mind you, is still the “anger” portion of the therapy.)
And as for Porzingis … well, few fond memories remain after requesting to be shipped out of town. That Andrea Bargnani re-run hasn’t done anything to earn the right to walk into the front office and express his displeasure with four straight losing seasons. Sure, it’s a completely valid concern for him to have now while nearing a potential long-term deal, but the nerve of him to voice it anyway is astounding.
Bargaining
Okay, well, let’s look at this reasonably for a second. The Knicks now have the room to sign two max-level free agents. That means some combination of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kahwi Leonard. And they’re (for sure, hopefully) going to get the number one pick in the draft so we can pair them alongside Zion Williamson.
Maybe this trade isn’t so bad after all.
They shed themselves of some bad contracts and a player who clearly didn’t want to be here. They flipped it for a nice piece in Dennis Smith Jr. with a couple experienced vets on expiring deals. DeAndre Jordan can show Mitchell Robinson the ropes and turn him into the truly elite defender we know he can be. Kevin Knox can assume a larger offensive role and really get accustomed to life as an everyday player.
This may be a good thing in the end after all.
Depression
It’s not a good thing. This is exactly what the Knicks do to us every time. Every time we have anything good in our lives, the universe comes and takes it away. We couldn’t even make it to the Eastern Conference Finals with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire in their primes. Roy Hibbert came along and stuff Melo and our dreams down the drain at the last second.
This is the sad existence that we call home. Even the Brooklyn Nets are good. I hate the Brooklyn Nets. Every Spencer Dinwiddie tweet is like getting hit in the stomach with a sledgehammer swung by André the Giant.
And fans are chanting for Enes Kanter to get minutes I’m not sure what that’s about. That guy could not have made it more obvious he hates his situation with the Knicks, nor could Knicks Twitter have made it more obvious that Kanter is a defensive nightmare from which there is no waking.
I don’t know. This is just normal to me now.
There’s a weird peacefulness in knowing that the Knicks are always going to break my heart. I get anxious when I start to think this time is different because it never is. The Knicks will always be the Knicks. We could get Durant, Irving, 1992 Michael Jordan and 2000 Shaquille O’Neal. It wouldn’t change a thing. We’d just lose in heartbreaking fashion again.
Acceptance
This is the world we live in now. Kristaps Porzingis is on the Dallas Mavericks.
The New York Knicks have a bunch of money to spend on free agents who’ve failed to accept The Mecca as a new home in recent history. They’ll probably snag a good draft pick and then in four years, when we think we’re finally ready to make the jump to the next level, they’ll trade that pick and Knox for a 38-year-old Melo, the rights to a documentary about maple syrup, and a slightly used washing machine.
This is just what being a Knicks fan is.
