The NBA draft is just days away and in that setting the Knicks may find their best chance at a future that seemed a lot easier to reach just a few weeks ago.
The hopes of signing Kevin Durant as a free agent may still be alive, although far more unlikely now that he is lost for next season while rehabilitating from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Anthony Davis, the prize of the trade market, was traded to the Lakers, who dumped nearly all of their young talent and future assets to make the deal.
There is still a huge free agent market class led by Kawhi Leonard, but the likelihood of landing the sort of franchise-shifting max slot star that seemed in the works when they traded Kristaps Porzingis to clear cap space is harder to imagine. The Knicks will make a push for Leonard and could end up spending big on short term deals on lesser players, but the reality is that the hopes of a quick fix to the long struggles are fading.
