The Very Questionable Future of the New York Knicks
Let’s skip the superlatives, New York Knick fans are knowledgeable. Basketball thrives in cities and we are the number one city in America. But like fans everywhere, we often think with our hearts. When things don’t go as we had hoped, we lash out at the easiest, rather than the most deserving targets. So Tom Thibodeau and David Fizzdale are vilified. For knowledgeable fans, this is weak.
There is no need to recount the Knicks history under James Dolan. He has been an atrocious, thin-skinned, meddlesome owner. We are constantly reminded of his pettiness as he has temper tantrums with fans and former players.
When Leon Rose was named head of basketball operations, visions of the two Melo transactions, the trade and the no trade contract, reared their ugly heads. Leon Rose outsmarted James Dolan twice. Was Dolan’s thought process, ‘That Leon Rose must be a genius, he outsmarted me twice.’
Rose began by appointing subordinates with proven NBA experience in capology, drafting and free agent acquisition, Brock Aller, Walt Perrin and Frank Zanin, respectively. But no one under Dolan has a free hand. Scott Perry was retained, while Isaiah Thomas , Steve Mills and other cronies lurk in the background. Steve Stout, Gersson Rosas and World Wide Wes came on board. The more mouths the merrier as JD is bound to hear what he wants to hear from someone. Thibs was hired but not allowed to fill his own coaching staff. General Dolan believes in divide and conquer.
As fans, we want a change for the better to take place. We argue about the best choice as head coach, draft pick and free agent signing.
But the cloud that has taken twenty years to build hangs over us. Is it cynicism or realism that gives us a knot in the stomach when we think about the future of our beloved Knicks under James Dolan’s leadership?