Well, say good bye to the Porzingis Era in New York. It looks like management did not like his negative comments about team culture and with the direction of the team. Phil Jackson drafted him and he’s no longer here to protect him and soothe his ego. New regime, new game plan, wants their own players. SU must admit that since the Isiah Thomas era as Team President, I just don’t care that much about the Knicks. Personal note: SU was on a flight this week with Isiah but as he was sitting in 1st class, I didn’t have time to share my perspective with him (or sign him up for SU). Several people did shake his hand and pose for pictures with him. He’s a likeable guy; bad team executive; doesn’t age.
But I digress. The Knicks have officially started a new rebuild. SU liked Porzingis and they packaged him with Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Trey Burke (other SU faves) so I really have no reason to watch any of their games now. Zip, zero, nada. In return from Dallas, they get all of the “expiring contracts” (which all NBA trades include) and a possible #1 pick. It appears that the Knicks are going all in to get Durant this off-season, Zion Williamson as a #1 pick and then pick up a few free agents (how about Manny Machado?). If they pull it off, you are a contender in 2019 – 2020 – especially in the NBA Eastern Conference. I can’t say I love the moves but I do give management credit for being bold and maybe, just maybe as Melania Trump says, “Be Best” (one wonders what else she says but that’s not why you are here).
Meanwhile, there is a big game on tap for this Sunday. SU is always asked to make those bold predictions and I am happy to oblige:
- This will be a high scoring game. Indoors, strong QBs, not so strong defenses, and hey, we all like scoring.
- You have to give Brady a lot of credit this year. He has the Pats back in the Super Bowl without any top notch receivers. Edelman is still there but he has dropped a ton of passes this season – many more than in past years. He does have good running backs and no doubt that will be their strategy to keep the Rams’ offense off the field.
- Let’s go with the Rams: 35 – 31. Another close Super Bowl that is entertaining.
As always, SU asks the intergalactic subscriber base for its predictions and the chance to receive major notoriety come Monday as we post the score that comes closest to the actual result. This is your chance for fame and fortune (well, certainly fame although maybe we can get you that SU logoed windbreaker as a prize). Have at it. What’s your prediction? You may even want to embellish your prediction with a key play that will happen.
And while you’re at it, thoughts on the blockbuster Knicks’ trade?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Patriots 31 Rams 20
So painful to write that.
The NBA is unwatchable. Who cares about the Brow, the Unicorn and especially the disfunctional Knicks!
As Michael Kay stated on his radio show tonight (amid all the mind-numbingly stupid banter), this trade really has two parts. Apparently the brass concluded that to have any chance at landing one max free agent (given how pathetic the rest of the team is), they needed to have the cap room to land two. So if they can in fact sign two from among Durant/Leonard/Irving and whoever else is in the top tier, and pair them with a high draft pick like Zion, maybe they can be relevant again. If not, it’s really back to square one.
Not sure what to make of the Knicks. Porzingis was the most exciting Knick since Jeremy Lin. And I didn’t find his frustration with Jackson that out of line, all things considered. But I’m less upset about this than I thought I’d be. The truth is that from the day they drafted him the concern was about his physique holding up against NBA players for an NBA season. It wasn’t a bad gamble but in this case, it played out much the way the critics expected. He has dealt with injures and missed a lot of games. Not just for injury but also for R&R or whatever it is that the players get these days. I will miss him but not that much.
Patriots 33 – Rams 20. The Rams really got off to a slow start last week and it took a fake punt for them to get the momentum going in their direction. The Patriots will not relinquish momentum as readily. Also, 6 roughing-the-passing penalties against the Rams won’t help.
One step at a time is all you can ask them to do at this point. They took potentially a very good step toward FINALLY becoming relevant. They still have a ways to go but freeing up all that cap space in order to sign 2 MAX free agents coupled with 2 first additional first round draft picks is potentially exciting. If we can land the Chosen one from Duke I think “they will come.” There is nothing more you can say or do until the draft. Of course with all the cynicism built up in all of us, which includes rating the Knicks as one of the worst franchises in all sports everyone is waiting for another bust. Hopefully, this is not the case. I say it all starts with the last letter in the alphabet… ZZZZZZion.
PS If someone doesn’t want to be here coupled with a history of hurting himself get rid of him or anyone who feels that way.
1) Knicks should not be allowed to charge full ticket prices, when they fully admit to not trying to win. These are scrimmages, not games
2) The Knicks will not be contenders if they sign Kevin Durant. They would need Durant and Bill Russell in his prime.,
3) Patriots 34. Rams 24
Pats 38 Rams 29. Game is in-hand for the Patriots with the Rams scoring a touchdown with about 4-5 minutes left to make it potentially interesting. Pats recover the onside kick. Burn some clock. Punt. Rams cannot convert a 4th down and Brady kneels to run out the clock. No one retires after the game. Well, maybe Dick Vermeil. But that’s it.
I think Patriots win by a landslide! 42-14. Rams simply too young to compete with Brady and Bellichek on this sized stage.
Re: KP – I became a Nets fan 7 years ago because I was frustrated with James Dolan as an owner. From what I understand, the Dolan’s are a great New York family who have been very philanthropic. But it does not seem like James is fit to run a ball club.
Cuban was in town this week. He spoke to my class at Stern NYU where I’m doing an evening MBA. The way this guy thinks is rare; he’s on another planet and hyper-aggressive. Mavs seem top of mind for him. He probably met with KP while he was up here and was able to convince him to demand a trade. Further, he probably knew the Knicks wouldn’t put up much of a fight with high hopes of landing Durant. He strikes me as being that smart, and willing to play the game that way.
I think by the time Durant gets here he’ll be too old to lead a team to a championship. Hate the move but also don’t care. Go Nets!
Matt, I have been following the Nets this year. Kenny Atkinson is a great coach who has achieved a nice record with less than All-Star personnel. Once LeVert returns, they should have a nice finish to the season and can maybe make some noise in the playoffs. You can’t fault Dolan for not spending the money on talent. I feel some of the worst moves really were with team executives like Isiah Thomas (trusting him too much) and Phil Jackson (not motivated to really embrace the role). I think Thomas is a “generationally” bad sports executive. Proof that former players do not necessarily make great team execs (see Michael Jordan). Magic Johnson has what it takes but Thomas clearly does and did not. Cuban is certainly emotionally invested with his team although what happened in that organization a couple of years ago (over a period of years) in terms of the culture and sexual harassment is striking considering that he travels with the team all the time. Hard to understand how he didn’t see what was happening at the executive level.
SU: Please continue to snub Isaiah since, when I went to Cobblestones to pick up my take-out chicken sandwich order, they told me that Isaiah had just left with it (supposedly inadvertently, but how can I trust a guy who would kiss Magic before NBA games . . And I really wanted that sandwich.)
Andy, excellent point. So like him!