Why This Deal Won’t Happen
The Knicks have committed four years and $72 Million to center free agent signing Joakim Noah. It’s unlikely the team will pull the plug on Noah less than half-way through his first season with the team.
Hoops Habit
Beyond that, the urgency of getting a deal done this year assumes that the Knicks won’t make the playoffs unless the trade for a 76ers center, that the Knicks need to make the playoffs in order to retain Derrick Rose, and that the Knicks want to re-sign Rose.
Just looking at that set of assumptions, I see Swiss cheese logic.
But more than that. The Knicks have shown little interest in loading this team with young talent. With the exception of Porzingis, and his former teammate Willy Hernangomez, the team seems to be more comfortable with senior NBA veterans.
But that dependence on veterans has not improved leadership, discipline, nor wins so far. And it may be that the unmet expectations of this year’s outcome that will force the team to attempt a reclamation of their playoff hopes at this year’s trade deadline.