Grading the 2019 NBA offseason for all 30 franchises

New York Knicks

Everything the New York Knicks endured this past season was supposed to result in the ultimate prize.

The pain emanating from a 17-win campaign coupled with the trade of Kristaps Porzingis would pale in comparison to the joy stemming from the arrival of Kevin Durant, with Kyrie Irving likely to follow.

Did KD’s mid-Finals Achilles tear ultimately play a roll in his decision? Perhaps, but the result is what truly matters.

The fact of the matter is that even after freeing up two max slots, the Knicks not only missed out on Durant and Kyrie, but were forced to watch them link up with the crosstown Brooklyn Nets.

It’s a new low for the city of New York and that’s truly something given its history. Having said that, the front office still managed to save face just a little bit with a summer that would be just fine for most bottom-feeders devoid of expectations.

No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett got off to a slow start in Summer League but finishes strong in averaging 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists a night.

Second-round selection Ignas Brazdeikis looks like a potential rotation piece after putting up 15.4 points on 51.0 percent shooting to go along with 5.2 rebounds per game.

The Knicks’ front office was adamant about spending their money wisely should they strike out at the top.

Guys like Taj Gibson and Elfird Payton among others aren’t the sexiest of names, but — except Julius Randle — each was given at the most a two-year deal with a team option on the latter year, allowing New York to remain financially flexible moving forward.

In a vacuum, the Knicks came out alright this offseason. Randle is coming off his best season as a pro while the others will help foster a competitive environment. Unfortunately for New York, there were bigger plans in mind, ones that were not met.

For a long-suffering fanbase, those failures are all that matters at this point.

Grade: C-