This is the important step, even if it looks hazy. The NBA is no different than any other business – successful organizations ultimately have to take risks to be successful.
Under Steve Mills and Scott Perry, for the most part, the Knicks were risk averse in their roster formation approach, signing players for short-term deals and refusing to trade the project’s capital for short-term help.
Obviously, the biggest risk to the Mills / Perry regime was trading Kristaps Porzingis with Dallas to free up space in hopes of signing more free agent superstars. While the Knicks swung and lost in free agency the following summer, with Porzingis undergoing another surgery to repair a lateral meniscus in his right knee, it remains to be decided whether the risk of trading a budding All-Star will pay off. for New York as they still have two future first-round picks due to them from Dallas, plus whatever they can recover from Dennis Smith Jr.
With Leon Rose now calling the shots to MSG, the most obvious risk he could take this offseason would be to use the added draft capital he acquired in the Porzingis trade, along with some of their young players, to acquire veteran help. There have been rumors that the Knicks are considering a commercial package for Victor Oladipo. New York is also connected to the future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul.
Saying the Knicks should “take a risk” is not the same as saying they should make a bad trade. As I mentioned earlier, this front office is expected to keep their draft choices for 2020 unless a deal materializes that blows them out of the water.
But they can’t be afraid to make a move just because it’s not the “safest” move to make. That could mean drafting an overall eighth place that is considered a reach, but this front office believes it could be a game changer. It could mean hiring a free agent like Harry Giles because you believe he can become a healthy and productive player in the right environment.