New York Knicks: What Kyrie Irving sees in New York

Opportunity in New York

The No. 1 thing that Kyrie Irving sees in the New York Knicks is opportunity. Defining what kind of opportunity Kyrie seeks is a little more complicated. New York City is full of opportunity, but it is up to each individual to decide what to do with it.

What Kyrie automatically obtains if he comes to the Knicks is his own team. Carmelo Anthony will be gone and the Knicks will be starving for a new face of the team. Pairing Kristaps Porzingis with the best ball-handler in the league would be scary for the Eastern Conference. The opportunity to lead his own team is the primary goal in Kyrie’s mind. Brian Windhorst of ESPN wrote:

"“Irving has said that he wants to play in a situation where he can be more of a focal point and that he no longer wants to play alongside LeBron James, sources said.”"

There will also be considerable opportunity for the Kyrie Irving “brand” in New York. The talent deficit in the Eastern Conference means the Knicks will be a playoff team no matter who is around Kyrie and Kristaps. Basketball success of any kind in New York will be like giving food to a starving man.

From a financial and marketing standpoint, coming to New York is the absolute best choice for Kyrie. Clearly, it may take a while before New York is championship ready. But if opportunity is what Kyrie wants, he’ll have it with the Knicks. What else does Kyrie Irving see in New York?