The New York Knicks did not get a lot in the way of tangible, long-term assets in Monday's surprising three-team deal.
The Knicks find themselves out two capable rotation players in mercurial shooting guard J.R. Smith and well-respected defensive wing Iman Shumpert, and they received nothing in the way of immediate help. This can be frustrating, with Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson and Lance Thomas not moving the needle in the slightest. Kirk and Amundson are even expected to be waived.
Sure, there's the 2019 second-round pick they got back, but the Knicks appear to have dealt Shumpert for the sole purpose of avoiding Smith's $6.4-million player option for next season and saving some money. Between unloading Smith, Shumpert, Amundson, Kirk and Samuel Dalembert, who the team waived Monday, the Knicks will save roughly $20 million this season in payroll and luxury tax payments, a nice chunk of change for the franchise but hardly something fans can get excited about.
But roster players aren't the only way to measure a move. Delivering Shumpert - a restricted free agent this summer himself - to avoid Smith's option shouldn't upset Knicks fans. Not only did Smith seem a poor fit for the new regime, removing his option from the books leaves the Knicks with an estimated $27 million in salary cap space this summer. What they do with it will determine how valuable the move was, but it's obviously better to have that space than not.
That flexibility this offseason, and the fit of the remaining pieces, were keys in the decision to make the deal, according to team president Phil Jackson:
As our journey moves through this season, we will search for the type of players that fit the style we hope to exhibit for our fans. Our desire is to improve our ability to compete. In addition, these transactions improve our flexibility to the current roster and the salary cap for future seasons.
The Knicks could now look to unload Andrea Bargnani and Amar'e Stoudemire, each of whom has a sizable expiring contract. Even if the team can't get anything in return, simply getting below the luxury tax line this year affords the Knicks some flexibility in future years, and it may only cost a second-round pick to unload one of them on the Philadelphia 76ers.
There's also a very strong incentive to shut down Carmelo Anthony, who is dealing with lingering left knee soreness that may ultimately require surgery. The season is over, for all intents and purposes, and there's little point in continuing to have Anthony play through pain.
Being bad wasn't enough to call this lost season a rebuilding year, and the Knicks are taking positive steps in creating financial flexibility and opening roster spots to try to find cheap, young talent.
A 5-32 record, worst in the NBA, is going to be tough to swallow, but at least the franchise appears to be putting an eye toward future success instead of naively dragging their feet through this season.
