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*The NBA offseason is cooling down, but the takes at OTG aren't. This month, we are hitting you with the Hot Take Marathon. Check back every day for a spicy NBA take!*
If your team is named after rolled up pants you know you’re struggling. That’s not to say that the ‘Nets’ is a remarkable team name in itself but it far exceeds deriving your name from an item of clothing.
On the court the Knicks have been the more successful franchise overall. You could make a very credible argument about recent history though.
Stability and success aren’t necessarily things you’d associate with the Knicks or Nets but other than the infamous Billy King saga, Brooklyn has been relatively consistent over the years. The Knicks have had more ups and downs than a jab-step from Carmelo Anthony. Both teams seem to be finally on the up with front office cohesion something that has finally been achieved.
Their crappy team name isn’t the only thing you can hold against the Knicks, they also have the glorious Joakim Noah on their roster. You can debate whether that or the Deng/Mozgov deals are worse. Recent rumblings indicate New York want to move his toxic contract. Funnily enough, just a few weeks ago GM Sean Marks was able to offload the dumpster fire that is Timofey Mozgov’s contract.
D’Angelo Russell has a make or break season ahead for him. If the young guard can somehow realise his potential then they’ll have a franchise piece to rival Porzingis in New York. Both are injury prone with oodles of talent but Porzingis has proven more at this stage of their short careers. Their form and health could also dictate the two franchises’ free agency fortunes come 2019.
Right now, the Knicks have the caché and allure of MSG but don’t discount the crew at Barclays. They have the salary cap to afford two superstars combined with their own draft pick and Denver’s going into the 2019 offseason. This #applefight has only just begun...