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2019 NBA Free Agency: Winners and losers from Day 1

By Daniel Lubofsky

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 27: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the game on January 27, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 27: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the game on January 27, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Losers: New York Knicks

The organization may never have said it, but there was a clear-cut best-case scenario when it came time to dream up New York’s summer plans. Fans had endeared themselves to this possibility, maybe even too much, but it was too realistic not to imagine, even if just for a moment.

It started with the lottery odds landing in New York’s favor with the No. 1 overall pick, granting them the chance to draft Zion Williamson. That failed to materialize, with a 17-win season instead turning into R.J. Barrett who, despite his talent, sits several notches below his fellow Dukie.

After freeing up enough money for two max contract slots, superstar free agents were supposed to flock to Madison Square Garden to come and restore glory to a historic franchise. KD and Kyrie seemed like a done deal for so long, with seemingly everyone assuming that at the very least, Durant would come to New York and cement his legacy by attempting to end a 40-plus year title drought.

In classic fashion, everything came crumbling down right before their very eyes. Durant tore his Achilles in the Finals, likely casting self-doubt about his ability to carry a team. A link between Kyrie and Brooklyn continued to pick up steam before a deal ultimately got done. Had Durant not gone down, who knows what would’ve happened? But that’s not how life works for the Knicks.

To its credit, New York stuck to its Plan B once it was made clear where Durant and Irving were taking their talents. The front office dolled out a combined $135 million on Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson and Reggie Bullock, none of whom are on a deal longer than three years (Randle has a team option for the third year).

For a team now firmly set in going for a more traditional rebuild, those deals weren’t laughable, but they may not have been the best use of money. Was there any reason, in particular, the Knicks couldn’t take on the one year and $17 million remaining on Andre Iguodala’s contract in exchange for a future first round pick?

Gibson will provide a stable locker room presence while Randle is sure to produce on the court. Bullock and Portis won’t factor into New York’s long-term plans, yet will eat up precious cap space that could’ve been used with a greater eye towards the future. It’s the Iguodala-type move that helps build up a treasure chest of assets to be unleashed at a later date.

Questionable signings aside, we all know what the real gut punch is for this long-suffering franchise. Not only did Durant and Kyrie sign elsewhere, crushing the Knicks’ free agent hopes, but they went and joined the team less than five miles away from Madison Square Garden.

Next. 2019 NBA free agency tracker - grades for every deal so far. dark

They say it is better to have loved then lost than to never have loved at all. That doesn’t seem to be the case for Knicks fans. After a season of rumors and speculations, they lost out on the ultimate prizes and will now be stuck watching their championship dreams play out right in front of their eyes on a different team. It doesn’t get any worse than that.