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Knicks Slammed in ESPN “Franchise Rankings” (REACTION)

Analyzing the Knicks’ qualifications

By Tommy Rothman

ESPN has just released their yearly “Ultimate Franchise Rankings” list, which ranks the 122 teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB on a 9-category scale. The rankings implement both statistical data and survey responses from fans. (Link at the end of this article)

The Knicks were ranked 121st on this year’s list, ahead of only the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and directly behind the NBA’s reigning cellar-dwellers, the Milwaukee Bucks. Rounding out the bottom 5 were the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and the MLB’s New York Mets. The NFL’s New York Jets and the NHL’s New York Islanders also finished near the very bottom of the rankings.

The Knicks ranked last in both “Fan Relations” and “On-Field Player Effort + Off-Field Player Likeability,” second-to-last in “Affordability,” fifth-to-last in “Ownership,” 112th in “Title Track (championships won and expected during life expectancy of fans who responded),” 108th in “Coaching,” 91st in “Stadium Experience,” and 8th in “Bang-For-Buck,” leading to their ultimate ranking of 121 out of 122.

The Ownership ranking jumps out at me a bit. For one, the NHL’s New York Rangers rank much higher in Ownership, despite the fact that, unless I am mistaken, Knicks Owner James Dolan is also the owner of the Rangers. The Rangers also rank much higher in Fan Relations, which seems odd, and they are also significantly higher in Stadium Experience, despite the fact that the Knicks and Rangers share a stadium.

In addition, James Dolan has one vastly under-appreciated trait: his ability and willingness to spend money. Dolan is ranked as the 118th best owner. The Wilpons, who own the Mets, are ranked 119th. As a fan of the Mets, I can testify to the fact that the Wilpons’ tight pockets have sunk their franchise into the pit of despair and it is unclear when, or if, they will spend the money needed to put the Mets back into contention. Of course, the NBA has a cap and the MLB does not. But James Dolan wants to win. Many NBA owners make decisions that hurt their teams to keep their payroll low and stay as far away from the luxury tax penalties as they can. Dolan is willing and able to open up his wallet and, with so many owners who cannot say the same, I think he is deserving of a higher ranking than 118.

As for Player Effort and Off-Field Likeability, it’s hard to look at this when considering “Franchises,” because a team’s roster is one of the things that changes most often, as opposed to ownership, organizational philosophy, pricing, stadium experiences, etc. While certain players put in despicably low amounts of effort this past season, the most glaring examples are no longer on the team, and the Knicks aren’t particularly unlikeable off the court compared to some teams (for instance, all 32 NFL teams).

When it comes to Stadium Experience, the Knicks should probably be higher. Their arena is legendary. Things are pricy, but if you’re in the stadium it means you have and are willing to spend money on the Knicks (although the horrible affordability ranking is completely valid). The entertainment is good, the food is good, the atmosphere is terrific, and it’s right in the middle of Manhattan, rather than a swamp in New Jersey.

The Knicks are probably rated too highly in Bang-For-Buck, if I understand the category correctly. It seems that it is based off of how well the team turns the fans’ money into wins. The Knicks haven’t been very successful, and they certainly reel in a lot of money from their fans. So I would have thought that category would be lower… I’ll look into that a bit more.

I don’t think of the Knicks as having the worst Fan Relations in the league, but it depends how you look at it. The demand for tickets, merchandise, and everything else related to the brand is very high for the Knicks. Thus, they don’t need to be handing out free seats and hot dogs and t-shirts and jerseys, because people are willing to buy them. If you’re running things right in New York, you don’t have to be nice to make money. In a business, kindness is plan B (The aforementioned Wilpons are on plan B). However, the Knicks are not very open with the fans from a management and PR perspective, which is frustrating, even if it is somewhat understandable. I wouldn’t put the Knicks last in this category, but I wouldn’t put them very highly either.

As for Title Track, the Knicks are ranked far too lowly. A team in a huge market (again with the exception of the Wilpons) has an advantage over other teams in its ability to lure in, spend on, and retain top talent. Due to the salary cap, the shaky reputation of the front office (even with Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher— whose low coach rating can’t really be debated against without further evidence— newly on board), the Knicks aren’t as well-positioned as a big-market, properly-owned, non-capped team like the Yankees are to win a title. But they definitely have an edge over more than 7 teams.

Knicks fans are a bit disgruntled these days, and in an entertainment industry, the company charging through-the-roof prices isn’t going to be the most beloved when the survey responses roll around, even if people are willing to pay those prices. But their ranking as the 2nd-to-worst team in American Sports seems a bit harsh.

Rankings aside, the Knicks, of course, are the most valuable team in the NBA, and had the highest revenues last season. The fans who responded to the survey, and all other fans, are spending, and as long as the cash is flowing, the only thing for the Knicks to truly be worried about is their pursuit of a title.

You can read the rest of the rankings here.

BREAKING: Knicks sign Jason Smith with MLE

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The Knicks have used their $3.27 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception on big man Jason Smith. Smith, 28, played for the New Orleans Pelicans last season and averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block in 27 minutes per game. The 7-foot, 240 pound Smith is one of the game’s top mid-range shooters and a capable team defender, help defender, and shot-blocker (although he can be beaten in 1-on-1 situations). Smith is also a 78% shooter from the line.

Smith was the Pelicans’ starting center until he went down with a knee injury in January. He has a chance to get some big minutes on this Knicks team, but he will likely have to compete with Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, Samuel Dalembert, Jeremy Tyler, and Cole Aldrich. This signing likely spells the end for Kenyon Martin’s time in New York.

Smith should fit well in the Triangle Offense, in which bigs who can shoot fare far better than your typical slow, lumbering, mass-cultivators. With Smith, Bargnani, and Stoudemire, the Knicks have 3 bigs who can shoot the mid-range jumper. Smith is by far the best defender of the 3, although less of an offensive threat all-around than Bargs and STAT.

The Knicks had been reluctant to use their MLE because they often end up being multi-year deals, but New York was able to land Smith on a 1-year deal which will not eat into next summer’s cap space.

RealGM was first to report.

-Tommy Rothman

REPORT: Carmelo staying with Knicks

Interview with Knicks rookie Cleanthony Early

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By Tommy Rothman

Earlier this week, I reached out to Cleanthony Early, who was taken 34th overall out of Wichita State by the Knicks in this year’s NBA Draft.

Early, a 6-foot-8, 219 pound forward, has made a name for himself with his great athleticism, a dangerous 3-point shot, and his solid defense. Cleanthony helped lead Wichita State to the Final Four in 2013 and was a key member of this year’s squad, which went an undefeated 35-0 before losing in the 2nd round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Cleanthony was terrific in that final game against Kentucky, scoring 31 points on 12/17 shooting and pulling down 7 rebounds. Most projections had Cleanthony, 23, going in the mid-to-late first round, but New York managed to snatch him up in round 2 with one of the picks acquired in the Tyson Chandler deal.

Cleanthony, a Bronx native, was kind enough to agree to answer some questions for me. Check out what he had to say:

Tommy Rothman, New York Knicks Memes: How did you get started playing basketball? How did you fall in love with the game?

Cleanthony Early, New York Knicks: Started just watching my brother when I was real young and following after him. It then just escalated with the sport just being so easily accessed at all times, and from then on I played it so much… the interest in it just kept growing!

Tommy: What was the entire draft experience like, from the combine, to the interviews, to the draft itself, to the moment you were drafted? How did you find out the Knicks were taking you? Did you get a call, or did you have to wait until your name was announced like everybody else?

Cleanthony: It was a great experience, everything you ever asked for. I was happy to be a part of it all. I got a call a couple of picks prior [to being drafted] so I kind of knew.

Tommy: A lot of people expected you to be picked Early (insert pun here), but you fell to the Knicks at 34. How does it feel to be selected to your hometown team? Do you feel more motivated after falling in the draft to prove people wrong?

Cleanthony: It feels great, whatever team picked me up [at] 1 through 60 would of been a blessing. Not too many people get to live that moment of hearing your name called [on draft night] in general. Obviously the later you fall the more motivating it is for you… or at least me. I feel I have something to prove. I think I should of went earlier. But I didn’t. So therefore I have to make them remember the kid that was overlooked once again.

Tommy: Do you think you are ready to handle the pressures of playing in Madison Square Garden, on the biggest stage in the NBA?

Cleanthony: Yes sir.

Tommy: Who on the team have you gotten a chance to speak to so far?

Cleanthony: Tim, Swish, Shump, and Shane.

Tommy: What is the best advice anybody has ever given you, as an athlete or as a person?

Cleanthony: Keep God first, keep working hard, and make good decisions.

Tommy: How do you feel about working in a system created by Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher, two established NBA champions?

Cleanthony: Blessed. Those are two people I got a chance to admire and observe as good and educated people at a real young age, honestly, and now I get to learn from them. [That] is the ultimate advantage on my side.

Tommy: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Cleanthony: My Mom, and great people with a vision and work ethic to make what they believe in happen by the energy they put out into the world and into themselves. A lot of things motivate and inspire me on a daily basis.

Tommy: What should we expect you to bring to the floor when you are on the court?

Cleanthony: A good basketball player giving his all to get those wins and hopefully a championship.

Tommy: With the Las Vegas Summer League approaching, how excited are you to get on the floor as a Knick for the first time, even if it isn’t an official game?

Cleanthony: I’m excited just to be out there with the guys, going hard, learning the offense.

Tommy: Do you have a nickname? “Earl The Pearl” is taken.

Cleanthony: (Laughs) Most people call me “Cle”.

Tommy: What was your pregame routine in college? How about your postgame routine?

Cleanthony: I listen to music and say a prayer before the game and after. But I do that a lot regardless so I don’t know if that counts.

Tommy: What advice do you have for young athletes out there?

Cleanthony: Keep God first, keep working hard and make good decisions. Watch who you keep around you, and the things you might say or do, because someone is always watching. Be smart.

Tommy: What are your hobbies outside of basketball?

Cleanthony: I like to watch movies, listen to music, read here and there, just chill and relax.

Tommy: Bonus Question: Are you ready to get some serious fashion tips from Clyde Frazier?

Cleanthony: [Laughs} I’ll take it.

*End of Interview*

Thanks to Cleanthony for taking the time to answer these questions for us! You can follow Cleanthony on Twitter here and Instagram here

You can follow Knicks Memes on Twitter here and Instagram here

-Tommy Rothman

Knicks Meet Melo In LA, Offer Max Contract

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Knicks President Phil Jackson and other members of the Knicks brass flew out to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with Carmelo Anthony. Melo was in LA to meet with the Lakers earlier in the day, and the Lakers reportedly offered him a 4 year, $97 million contract, the most they are allowed to give under the CBA. The Knicks, however, are allowed to give Anthony 5 years and $130 million because he is “their player”, and according to reports, Jackson assured Anthony he would receive this maximum offer if that is what it takes to keep him in New York. The Knicks, of course, are still hoping they can keep Anthony without paying the maximum amount, but it is now clear that if Melo demands it, he will get it.

The Knicks had seemed out of the Melo sweepstakes a couple weeks ago, but have since re-emerged as a very likely— maybe even probable— landing spot for the star forward. Jackson had publicly been reluctant to offer Anthony a max contract, but it appears that this was just posturing on the part of the Zen Master.

The Knicks were hoping for a verbal commitment from Melo tonight, but it looks like this did not happen. Melo is scheduled to meet privately with Kobe Bryant, who was unable to make it to the meeting with the Lakers earlier in the day. Carmelo is expected to decide soon, and we could very well know his fate by the end of the week. As of now, the Knicks look to be in a pretty good position, especially with that extra $30 million dangling in front of Anthony.

-Tommy Rothman

BREAKING: Knicks, Mavericks agree on huge trade

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The Knicks and Mavericks have agreed on a large-scale trade, according to reports.

The Knicks will reportedly send Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas, who will ship Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, and both the 34th and 51st selections in Thursday night’s NBA Draft to New York.

This seems like a really good trade for the Knicks. First, let’s be fair and address what they lost.

Tyson Chandler was our anchor in the middle for 2 years, before having a rough season in 2013-2014. Injuries and apparent lethargy made him seem like a shell of his former self. Dallas is hoping Chandler can bounce back and be the dominant force on defense and on the boards like he was in years past. Even if Tyson does return to his old form, Dallas didn’t get him for cheap.

The Knicks also sent out Raymond Felton in this deal. The Knicks had been trying to dump Felton’s contract, so many will view this as another “plus” in the trade for New York despite the fact that they are losing a player. However, Felton was good in 2012-2013 before his disastrous campaign in 2013-2014, and at his worst, he is still a solid backup point guard. Still, the fans and management had turned on him, and he had to go. The writing was on the wall for Raymond.

Now, let’s look at what Phil Jackson and the Knicks are receiving in this swap.

Jose Calderon is a solid point guard, an immediate upgrade over Felton. Calderon is also a good shooter, making him a good fit in Jackson’s triangle offense. Calderon is not a good defender, but should be an upgrade over Felton on that end of the floor.

Dalembert is a very good defender and a solid rebounder, but very weak on the offensive end. In many ways, he is a poor man’s Chandler. His inclusion in the deal will help the Knicks replace Tyson, if Dalembert can stay healthy.

Ellington is a good shooter and plays solid defense on opposing guards. He is a throw-in, but should be a good fit in Jackson’s system.

Shane Larkin was the 18th overall pick in last year’s draft, and the point guard, as you may recall, was one of the Knicks’ biggest targets until he was drafted 6 picks before New York came on the board. Larkin is a promising player who should be able to contribute on offense, although his small stature will hurt him on defense, where a penchant for racking up steals is his only area of strength.

And then, of course, the Knicks get the 34th and 51st picks in the draft on Thursday night. The Knicks could look to package the two picks for a 1st rounder, package 1 of the picks with the $1.4 Million they are legally allowed to trade (after having sent $1.8M to Toronto in the Andrea Bargnani trade) and upgrade that pick, or package both picks with the money to move up as far as they can. Of course, they could also use the $1.4M to purchase a third pick, or trade picks (and/or cash) for players. The Knicks now have some flexibility despite trading their original picks away.

Now, for the salary cap. This trade clears room for the Knicks right now, but they are still over the cap. Even when a team is over the cap, being as close to the cap as possible allows teams to pull off more types of transactions (such as sign-and-trades) under the complicated “new” CBA, and Phil certainly got himself some more wiggle room with this deal. If the Knicks want to get under the cap this season and make a run at some of the big free agents, they will probably have to ship out guys like Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire. Going forward, this trade actually increases New York’s cap commitment because Calderon had a longer and larger contract than Felton, but instead of burning money with Raymond, the Knicks are now paying a quality point guard (who they can always trade, if need be).

What does this mean for Carmelo Anthony? We’re not sure yet. This trade probably makes the Knicks better now, adds upside to the roster, gives them more room to make moves to improve in the future, and shows that, albatross contracts and foolish trades of the past be damned, Phil and the Knicks can, indeed, shake things up if they are so inclined. It remains to be seen how, if at all, this move and possible moves to come (as Jackson is rumored to be looking to continue shaking up the roster) will impact Melo’s thinking.

This looks like a good trade for the Knicks. It’s not official yet, but the two teams are in agreement and, barring a major turn of events, Phil Jackson has made a big splash with his first real move as Knicks President.

-Tommy Rothman

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