Holiday wish list for every NBA team

New York Knicks

Even if New York Knicks’ rookie Kristaps Porzingis does not average double figures for the rest of his rookie campaign he has exceeded all expectations. He has begun to slow down a bit after his hot start, but that should not be a deterrent for believing he can be a solid contributor in the league. His future success could be tied to what happens with Carmelo Anthony.

No one except for the truly faithful of Knicks fans ever thought that there was a possibility of a title being raised in Madison Square Garden anytime soon. Well, maybe the New York Rangers might get lucky in the NHL. Since immediate title contention was not in the plans, why would Knicks’ president Phil Jackson sign Carmelo Anthony to such a long-term contract? It is possible that New York will be involved in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. If they were to somehow stun the sports world by convincing him to come to the Big Apple, having Anthony already in place makes sense. In all likelihood that nothing materializes with Durant, then keeping Anthony turns out to be wasteful gamble.

New York is at the crossroads. Carmelo Anthony wants to compete for championships before he is removed from his prime. It will be tough for the Knicks to keep him happy. Remember, when it was announced that Porzingis was drafted by the Knicks, Anthony threw a fit because he had a preference for a player who can contribute right away. So far Porzingis has delivered. That does not guarantee satisfaction. This team needs another star to pair with their best player, or come to the conclusion that trading Anthony might be the right decision to make if they want to compete in the years to come.

Next: Oklahoma City Thunder: Getting That Commitment