Holy Mother of... - The Dream Scenario
Many fans may think the previous scenario is the real dream, but I think a fair amount of others might be really tentative to throw every last hard-earned asset away in favor of what may be a four or five year title window.
So, is there any way for New York fans to have their cake and eat it too? Well, truth be told probably not, but this is a hypothetical scenario invented by a long-suffering Knicks fanatic and so for this article I reserve the right to say yes, god dammit, yes there is.
It turns out in this NBA universe unfathomably good fortune is something that actually falls upon fans of the New York Knickerbockers once in a great long while. The franchise finds themselves at the top of the lottery come June and they draft Duke University’s biological superfreak Zion Williamson. Fans weep, the media froths, opponents shudder as the future of the National Basketball Association comes to roost at 4 Penn Plaza.
Suddenly, last season’s ticket prices are beginning to seem like a god damn bargain.
I personally put far more stock in drafting a generational talent like Zion than in signing or trading for any number of veteran free agents. There’s a bigger window and a lot more wiggle room there to try and put together not just a contender but a potential dynasty. Plus, there’s just a certain romantic appeal to homegrown talent going to battle for your team over the course of 10, 15, 20 years that potentially outweighs an instant title conjured in July, even if said homegrown talent doesn’t ever bring you to the promised land on their own.
No need to worry about Zion falling short, though. At least not in this scenario. Because this is the year, Knicks fans, when every last thing goes right. July hits and the KD to NY rumors prove to be true. The former MVP and multiple Finals MVP picks up one of the max slots secured by the Porzingis deal . The second slot is quickly filled by Kyrie and although the title odds are probably significantly lower with a rookie Zion than with a prime AD, New York is still clearly in the mix to see their way to June with their glorious new big three at the helm.
Now just picture Frank Isola cowering in fear somewhere in the corner and a Super Saiyan Spike Lee in an orange and blue emperor’s robe. That’s next year.
This scenario is the real dream, in my opinion at least, because the Knicks have set themselves up to make a run at a title as soon as next season while simultaneously maintaining their young core and their draft picks and securing their franchise player-of-the-future in Zion.
The odds are clearly stacked against the Knicks for this one to actually come to fruition, but it really isn’t too far outside the realm of possibility. Just, ya know, cross your fingers…
..and hope for one more frozen envelope.
Fro-Zion-velope.
