Anthony Davis is now a Laker. However, during negotiations, it appears that super-agent Rich Paul had the New York Knicks on his mind.
The NBA has become a super-charged game of musical chairs, with players and agents in the driver’s seat. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Anthony Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, was pushing for a trade to the New York Knicks, in part because of their big market appeal.
“According to a source, Paul tried to get New Orleans to trade Davis to the Knicks last month as hard as he tried to get him dealt to the Lakers…Paul, according to the source, values the New York market and that’s why Davis could be in play in 2020 as a free agent if things don’t work out in Los Angeles.”
In my opinion, after the summer of 2019 let down, the last thing that Knicks fans need is another free-agent class to get their hopes up. But in today’s NBA, tanking, teenage prospects, and free-agent classes are almost more enticing and exciting than the regular season.
Furthermore, back in June, Paul told S.L. Price of Sports Illustrated that Davis intends to enter the summer of 2020 as a free agent.
“Where he’s going to land? I have no idea. And it don’t matter. We’re going into free agency. Why does it matter to me where he goes? Earth: We’re going into free agency. He has a year, he has to play. But after that, I can’t say it no bigger: WE ARE GOING INTO FREE AGENCY. 2020: ANTHONY DAVIS WILL BE IN FREE AGENCY.”
I mean it doesn’t get more definitive than that. But for the Knicks, their best course of action is to focus on their own house. After a couple of rough games in Las Vegas, RJ Barrett started to come around, and both Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson look like they could play tomorrow if the season started.
There’s plenty of time to fawn over free agents that may or may not come to New York. Yet, in the meantime, it’s time to start cashing in on the “culture” that head coach David Fizdale is creating. This season, wins will mean more than losses, as the league will be watching to see if the Knicks can take the next step.
Player development and a potential push for an eighth seed? Now that’s what I want to hear.
