I’ve been a Knicks fan since July 14, 1996.
That was the day my favorite player as a young lad, Larry Johnson got traded to the Knicks.
I was never a fan of local sports teams.
My dad roots for sports in an infuriating way.
Go New York Go New York Go!
Nets are the cat’s meow?
Let’s go Nets!
It’s the same with every sports.
NFL, MLB, even the NHL.
In my elementary school wisdom, I knew I wanted no part of that.
So I chose to be a hater.
I rooted for out of market teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Charlotte Hornets.
In the NBA, Larry Johnson was my guy.
When he got traded that July night, I found out from the WB11 evening news.
I cried a lot that night.
I was at a crossroads at 10 years old.
Abandon my hater status or no longer root for my guy LJ.
It was a fun couple of years.
I went to something like 35 games that first year.
I even traveled and went to some playoff games in Boston.
It was a great time.
I have loved seeing the Knicks in the playoffs recently.
More recently beating the Cavs two years ago in the playoffs.
And news comes last night that the Knicks complete the Nova squad by acquiring Mikal Bridges.
And let me say, I was super stoked to here this news.
He is the perfect fit with this team, assuming we re-sign OG Anunoby.
The Knicks are now an even more fun team with more potential to make noise in the playoffs.
Who doesn’t love that?!
That being said, if I’m going to be objective, this was expensive.
Very, very expensive.
Mikal Bridges has never even been an All-Star.
What he does have on his side is durability.
They say the best ability is availability and this would be a tip of the cap to that.
Now unprotected 1st round picks are no joke.
A 2028 pick swap?
Looking further, the 2025 and 2027 picks should be in the late 20s.
I’m not really sweating those.
They don’t have a ton of value based on this roster.
The 2025 Milwaukee pick should be in the 20s.
They are currently have the 2nd shortest odds to win the East.
It’s not a bet on talent as much as chemistry and chemistry wins championships.
