Pipe Dream Kyrie & Rocket Melo

by Patrick Diaz @p_diazNY

What can the Knicks offer in their pursuit of Kyrie Irving? Truth is not much. In what seems more and more like a pipe dream since the news broke, the Knicks won’t include Kristaps Porzingis in any deals. The Cavs don’t seem interested in any offer that doesn’t include Porzingis, they’re looking for a Carmelo type haul like the Denver Nuggets got from New York in 2011.

Another factor making a Kyrie to New York deal highly unlikely is that Carmelo Anthony has no interest in playing for the Cavs which means no trade. If Carmelo Anthony was going to the Cavaliers it’s likely it would’ve happened already, the influence of his pal LeBron James would’ve helped make it happen. Carmelo has his heart set on joining his other pal, Chris Paul, in Houston who can’t offer the Knicks suitable enough compensation. Carmelo not considering Cleveland is a little puzzling since he’s almost guaranteed a trip to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career alongside LeBron. It appears Carmelo seems to be concerned with the money
left on the remaining 2 years of his 5-year deal; he’s guaranteed 54 million dollars. In a possible scenario he can waive his no trade clause, play one year in Cleveland with LeBron and quite possibly reach the Finals after he can opt out and join Houston that summer but he would forfeit the remaining 27.9 million on his deal. Carmelo wants to get paid before anything else, plain and simple. He stated before careers shouldn’t be defined by championships. While his addition to the Rockets makes them formidable they are far from the favorite in an ultra-competitive western conference that includes the reigning champion Warriors. The Cavs are asking for an impact veteran, a blue chip player and multiple picks, talks are slow.

As the Knicks continue to weigh their options it’s worth noting that GM Scott Perry has added 5 new executives to the front office to be part of his regime since he was hired in July. The Knicks haven’t had an All-Star point guard start for them since Brooklyn’s very own Mark Jackson all the way back in 1989 before him, Michael “Sugar” Ray Richardson was selected to the All-Star team from 1980-82, you have to go even further back then to get to the iconic Walt “Clyde” Frazier who was an All-Star from 1970-76. Considering the Knicks have had 3 All-Star point guards in almost 50 years in a city that is known to be a hot bed for point guard talent, Kyrie to New York makes a lot of sense, by some miracle New York is one of his top destinations. It helps that Kyrie is a local kid himself growing up in New Jersey, his father being from the Bronx and his godfather is Rod Strickland a former Knicks point guard who is
also a Bronx Native. Super teams in NBA are going to be a trend for the foreseeable future. A Porzingis/Irving foundation points the Knicks in that direction and they should be able to attract top tier talent if there is a union. The Knicks may have to mortgage their future first round picks in whatever unlikely agreement may come for Kyrie. He is what teams hope future first round picks become, a perennial All-Star, a champion with 3 straight trips to the Finals and one of the elite talents in the NBA. It’s an impressive resume for someone yet to enter his prime at only 25 years of age.