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NBA Power Rankings: Silver Linings and Signs of Legitimacy

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 5, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball around Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) and guard Wayne Ellington (2) during the fourth quarter of the game at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Blazers won the game 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball around Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) and guard Wayne Ellington (2) during the fourth quarter of the game at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Blazers won the game 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 4, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks injured small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) watches from the second row during a time out during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks injured small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) watches from the second row during a time out during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

30. New York Knicks

Previous: No. 28

Record: 5-32

Last Week: 0-4

Silver Lining: Tons of Cap Space

The New York Knicks are the worst team in the NBA. Not only is Carmelo Anthony in line to sit for the remainder of the 2014-15 season, but the Knicks have officially commenced the fire sale.

New York traded 2013 Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith and defensive specialist Iman Shumpert for role players and a future draft pick.

Whether or not Louis Amundson, Alex Kirk or Lance Thomas pan out, the Knicks are clearly in tank mode.

The Knicks don’t have much else to play for but personnel development. The likes of Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Shane Larkin could all turn heads and earn future contracts.

Unfortunately, that’s the extent of New York’s aspirations without Anthony in the lineup. The evidence: the Knicks have lost 12 consecutive games and 22 of 23.

Fortunately, New York is in line to have more than $30 million in cap space.

Next: Bright Future, Dim-Lit Present