New York Knicks: How the Kyrie Irving trade affects the Knicks

Kyrie Irving wasn’t traded to the New York Knicks, but his trade to the Boston Celtics affects them still. The fact he isn’t a Knick speaks volumes about their future.

The New York Knicks were listed as one of Kyrie Irving‘s choice destinations upon his trade request to the Cleveland Cavaliers. If nothing else, the Knicks’ inclusion on that list verified that New York can still be a prime free agent destination.

Now that Kyrie has been traded to the Boston Celtics and not the Knicks, there are lessons to be learned. Furthermore, the non-trade by the New York front office is good news for the future of the team.

Past versions of the Knicks would have traded for Kyrie even if it meant giving away all valuable assets. Since Steve Mills took a sensible approach to trade discussions, Madison Square Garden appears to be on the right track…finally.

The trade of Kyrie Irving indirectly affects the Knicks in a few different ways. Obviously, both the Cavs and Celtics are in the Eastern Conference with New York. Yet, the Kyrie trade will affect New York more than just in the playoff standings.

The Porzingis remains

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the Cavaliers wanted Kristaps Porzingis in any trade with the Knicks involving Kyrie Irving. However, it was also reported in Newsday that Porzingis would be off-limits in any of those trade talks.

The fear of many New York Knicks fans was that James Dolan would step in and force a trade for Kyrie at any cost. Luckily, Dolan and his management team understood their need to keep Porzingis. The moment Kyrie was traded to Boston told the NBA the Knicks would no longer operate according to the emotions of its owner.

The future of the Knicks is a highly skilled, internationally experienced power forward who is 7’3″, 240 pounds of pure athleticism. There never was any need to trade him for Kyrie under any circumstances (unless LeBron James was coming too).

The non-trade by the Knicks clearly affected their young players in a very positive way. Furthermore, it spoke to how they will handle the most talked about player on the team, Carmelo Anthony.

Handling Carmelo with patience

The patience shown by the Knicks to not sell out for Kyrie sent ripples throughout the entire organization. As they have shown this offseason, Knicks management will not trade Carmelo just to get rid of him. The Houston Rockets are the team of choice for Carmelo, but there is no logical trade between the two teams available.

The French connection

The two players most directly affected by not trading for Kyrie are Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina. If the Knicks are to succeed in the 2017-18 season, Ntilikina will have to provide solid minutes. By keeping the team together, the New York Knicks dispelled any idea they don’t believe in the young Frenchman.

It may be next year or longer before the real Frank Ntilikina stands up, but the Knicks are willing to wait. In not taking the Kyrie Irving bait, New York told every young player on the team it was their time to shine.

Ntilikina is going to make mistakes and the offense will be out of sorts often early this year. But it is clear Knicks management believes in Frank Ntilikina and in every one of his teammates.

The fact that Kyrie Irving isn’t on the New York Knicks speaks volumes about the future inside Madison Square Garden.

Next: NBA Trade Grades - Cavaliers send Kyrie Irving to Celtics

A new era has begun in New York and it started when the team chose to do nothing.

Home/New York Knicks