Everything short of a championship is being deemed unsuccessful for the New York Knicks right now. Despite an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the current prognosis for this organization is making a big splash.
The Knicks are in the market for a new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau. Four playoff appearances in five attempts did not secure his position as the man who could guide New York to the promised land.
The same can be said of the Knicks' core at the moment. Despite their players helping catapult them to their best playoff run since the late 1990s, trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant is all people can talk about.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and head coach Doc Rivers.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and head coach Doc Rivers.
Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo enjoyed a far less successful campaign with his team than the Knicks had. His Milwaukee Bucks were bounced in five games by the eventual Eastern Conference Champions, the Indiana Pacers.
Perhaps that common enemy, since the Knicks also lost to the Pacers, gives the two sides something to talk about when discussing a potential union. Or perhaps New York will have to temper their expectations.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN delivered some crushing news for those paying close attention to the developments of the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. The update had to do with the lack of changes in the situation.
"Right now, there is no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market," Windhorst told viewers. "There is no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions. He has not asked for it. The Bucks are not looking to trade him."
Perhaps if Antetokounmpo is not the Knicks' guy then Durant can be. However, Knicks insider Ian Begley recently delivered his own pessimism on that situation.
For better or worse, the Knicks may be stuck with the core they have. That should not feel like a bad thing. Considering how close this formula was to bringing them to the NBA Finals, fine-tuning a good thing could prove to be the better approach.