5 moves the new Knicks can make to remind us they’re still the old Knicks

1. Trading Kristaps Porzingis for Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith

Just because Phil Jackson’s gone, that doesn’t mean that Kristaps Porzingis rumors are going to go away any time soon. Until Porzingis is in a Knicks uniform on opening day, people are going to keep linking him with a move away. However, it is easily the most detrimental move the Knicks could make and thinking he’s anything but untouchable is the worst course of action.

James Dolan may not care as much as Jackson that Porzingis skipped the team’s exit meetings, which he totally lied about when criticizing him over it. But Dolan may think that he could fetch a great return because of his value. The Knicks’ history of getting hoodwinked, combined with the moves that GM LeBron has made, is what might make a Porzingis for Shumpert and J.R. Smith deal possible.

Any package in which Porzingis gets dealt is a bad one, but this is easily the worst since they would effectively be trading their future for the past. It would also be a perfectly roundabout way of reminding everyone that this new Knicks regime is no different from the old Knicks.

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This offseason could either signal the start of a successful culture change in New York, or it could resemble a trainwreck that you can’t watch, but also can’t look away from. Whatever may transpire over the next few weeks, all eyes will be on the Big Apple.