Fansided

NBA post-free agency power rankings

By Brendon Kleen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks drives against John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks drives against John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

26. New York Knicks

If the Mavericks’ success exists in favor of running your team well and bottoming out only when excessively obvious, the Knicks barrelling into relevance once more looks almost entirely like an accident.

Former President Phil Jackson may never have wanted to draft Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 pick in 2015 in the first place, and attempted to trade him before the 2017 draft. By the end of that summer, Jackson was gone, and Porzingis played out of his mind to open the following season. Since then, they’ve made mostly smart decisions. Is there a chance Jackson was a bigger problem over the last several seasons than fabled bad owner James Dolan?

Start with the 2017 draft, when New York selected another foreign player to pair with Porzingis. French guard Frank Ntilikina looks like a prototypical modern guard, a longer Patrick Beverley who can defend multiple positions.

When Porzingis got hurt midway through the year, the Knicks slowly realized tanking was their only option and ended up with the ninth pick again. They lasered in on Kentucky’s Kevin Knox, a decision which, following a Summer League in which he averaged 21 points and 7 rebounds, looks genius. With their second-round selection, they scooped up high schooler Mitchell Robinson, who at one point was getting lottery consideration. Robinson had a great Summer League as well.

With new coach David Fizdale, smart executives in place, and a nice young core, the Knicks are looking up. Porzingis’ recovery from an ACL tear and continued development from Knox, Robinson, Ntilikina and free agent acquisition Mario Hezonja give Knicks fans hope for the first time since Jackson was hired.

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