During a rare, wide-ranging interview earlier this week, Knicks owner James Dolan voiced confidence that the team would enjoy a successful summer in recruiting top tier free agents.
“Yes, I do think that. I think we offer a pretty good situation for [to acquire free agents],” he said on The Michael Kay Show. “One is a lot of them love New York, a bunch of them live in New York in the offseason. They know the team, they know [head coach David Fizdale] really well, they know [president Steve Mills] and [GM Scott Perry]. Players want to go to a winner and they want to get paid. We’re definitely going to pay them. We think with them combined and the kids we’ve got today, we can build a winning team.”
Thus far, the rebuilding Knicks sit in the NBA’s cellar, owning a league-worst record of 13-56. However, the organization has pointed toward its young assets, such as Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr. and Mitchell Robinson — in addition to the city of New York — as enticing reasons for free agents to consider the team as a destination.
Fizdale echoed Dolan’s comments, citing player development and chatter around the league.
“Well, the beauty of it, the thing that I always — as much as I love you guys — I try to have my baseline on people that are having to make decisions around the league when they look at our team,” Fizdale said, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “All of the feedback that we’ve gotten is young kids have gotten better, our guys compete their butts off. We set ourselves up big-time for a great future and that’s what I’m listening to when I talk to my friends around the league and the feedback that I’m getting.”
The Knicks are expected to be serious players for Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and others. It’s still far from a certainty that New York will sign any of those impending free agents and Fizdale said he remains focused on finishing the season strong.
“Well, since we’ve been here, I’m hoping that’s the case, that the relationships and what we’re building here will attract people,” Fizdale said. “But right now I’m so far away from that, guys, I’m like in a darkroom right now with these guys. I’ve got a lot of things I’m trying to clean up and teach these young guys. Free agency for me is like millions of miles away.”
they are all delusional smoke and mirrors deceiving money hungry know what to say to the press IDIOTS!
The allure of playing with Knox and DSJ…funny. If Durant signs, Knox becomes a bench player. If Kyrie signs, DSJ also moves to the bench. The Knicks traded the allure that top tier fa’s wanted to join. Helping Porzingis help a young team was the allure. Now he’s gone…soooo the only thing that could lure those free agents is the Garden. I say this because if its the allure of NY that brings fa’s here…there’s now the Brooklyn Nets, whom btw are in the playoffs.
Let’s not forget they will have a top 5 pick in this years draft. Mitchell Robinson is a pretty good player too.
This team is loaded with 2nd unit players and not one player on the existing roster projects to be starter on a competitive team next year either. None of the guys who deserve a max deal will want any part of this. What a mess.
totally agree….there is nothing the NBA can or wants to do because as a business both the Knicks and MSG are making a fortune. unfortunately for our fan base, the only thing we can look forward to is how they will be once again holding their ……when no one wants to sign as a fa and we some how f’up the draft!
You’re right about all the players in the current roster, however adding two to FA’s and a top pick to the mix, plus future picks down the road, and there it becomes a decent attraction. Right now the Knicks kids are playing top lineups – but they’d fare better if coming off the bench.
‘If’ the Knicks landed the top pick in the draft, I’d say it’s reasonable that they could and two to FA’s. and I’m sure guys like DeAndre Jordan would resign at the 8M exception for a chance to play with them if that occurred.
Fizdale needs to do a better job of controlling the team. Last night Jordan wanted to kill Mudiay, and then in the second half Trier went after Mudiay on the bench, trying to get into an altercation. Oddly, Jordan was the one who held him back. Fizdale just let it all play out.
And as Jordan was one assist away from his triple double, Fiz pulls him with minutes left. Jordan tossed a towel into the stands, nodding his head.
Crap like this is what will keep free agents away (and Dolan, too!).
Fizzle says he’s teaching the players how to be better. Who’s teaching him? He’s part of the problem. Even though there’s limited talent, his rotations make little sense, and his substitutions are even worse. With proper coaching, there are some players with potential. But I haven’t seen it yet with Fizzle at the helm. Love to see Jordan stick around and mentor Robinson. Drawing top FAs could be tough with the current leadership in place from Dolan right on down.
Telling everone to be yourself is not coaching.
the media got this guy hired and was approved by dolan