Making a giant transfer this offseason to herald Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks now discover themselves on the middle of commerce conversations surrounding Donovan Mitchell.
The three-time All-Star guard has not formally requested a commerce from the Utah Jazz, however after the Jazz dealt All-Star middle Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this offseason, many have speculated that Mitchell could possibly be subsequent as Utah appears to be like to undergo a full rebuilding course of.
The Jazz have been engaged in Donovan Mitchell trade talks with the Knicks for the final a number of weeks and whereas it could not be surprising to see a commerce get achieved earlier than the beginning of the 2022-23 season, the Knicks are nonetheless looking for their identification.
They have been to the playoffs simply as soon as (2021) because the begin of the 2013-14 season and for years, New York has been checked out as a bottom-tier franchise by many across the NBA.
Making it no secret that he’s an avid New York Knicks fan over time, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has at all times supported the crew and has not been scared to voice his opinion on what is going on with the franchise.
On Tuesday, Smith sounded off on the crew’s management on First Take, criticizing proprietor James Dolan and letting or not it’s recognized that he’s not proud of the way in which issues have been dealt with.
“I am not going to The Garden this year. I’m not. I do not want any parts of it. I will never stop rooting for the New York Knicks, but I am not going there because I am just ticked off. I am disgusted. It’s an embarrassment and let me explain. Ladies and gentlemen, James Dolan needs to go, so badly. I am so sick of his leadership of this franchise. It is a disgrace to professional sports. All he cares about; his legacy is tied to something he is trying to build in Vegas…” – Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take
Dolan has lengthy been a goal of many annoyed Knicks followers and his management has been questioned many instances earlier than.
In reality, this isn’t the primary time Smith has referred to as out the crew’s proprietor and whereas there have been rumors recently about Dolan presumably trying to promote the crew, he has since come out and publicly acknowledged that he has little interest in promoting both the New York Knicks or New York Rangers, as MSG Entertainment owns each skilled sports activities franchises.
Continuing his rant in regards to the New York Knicks as an entire, Smith went on to speak about crew president Leon Rose, stating that whereas he respects Rose and has nothing in opposition to the individual that he’s, he needs Rose would step up extra for the crew.
“It is not just about basketball when it comes to the New York Knicks. That’s not what it is about. It is about leadership. I do not know how much more disappointed I can be in Leon Rose. This man is actually petrified of talking to the media. Petrified. Now for those of you out there who say, ‘Who do we care, all we care about is the product on the court,’ you are wrong. It is the Knicks. They’re a moribund, pathetic franchise…” -Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take
Coming off a 2021-22 season through which they went 37-45, the Knicks might be trying to change the narrative surrounding them coming into the 2022-23 season.
The arrivals of Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein, plus the event of younger gamers akin to Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes and others, presents a way of enchancment for this franchise. However, success means every little thing in New York, one thing that the Knicks have had a tough time discovering.
The inconsistencies this franchise has handled stemming from the very high of management as outlined by Smith could possibly be an enormous think about whether or not or not they can commerce for All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who has at all times been keen on the New York sports activities market, however could possibly be hesitant to affix one other group with comparable inner issues to the one he’s at the moment part of.