IT’S A GREAT TIME TO OWN THE KNICK’S PICK

At least you aren’t a Knicks fan…unless you are a Knicks fan and then, well, sorry.

In an offseason that has made most Jazz fans feel apprehensive at best, it is a great time to remember that we have a great asset that will pay off next season.  Because of a boneheaded move by Isaiah Thomas, when the Jazz took on Tom Gugliotta’s contract, the Knicks also included a non protected pick that will finally pay off for the Jazz next offseason.  No one could have predicted that the Knicks would sink into total disarray, but this next season may be the best time to own New York’s pick.

Don’t Worry, Knicks fan.  You can become a Jazz fan this next season.

As of today, this is the Knicks roster.

Larry Hughes, Eddy Curry, Al Harrington, Darko Milicic, Jared Jeffries, Chris Duhon, Danilo Galinari, Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Wilson Chandler, Joe Crawford, and Chris Hunter.  Of course the Knicks could re-sign David Lee or Nate Robinson, but chances are that the Knicks lose at least one of those players.  And I don’t see the Knicks landing a free agent much better than Ramon Sessions, or Andre Miller, two players who make the team only marginally better.  I don’t care who the coach of the New York Knicks is, that is probably the worst roster in the league besides Sacramento.  Sorry Kings fans, but it’s true.  Lots of up and coming pieces, but nothing that is going to win games.  Speaking of the worst team last season, lets look at the bottom of the league from a year ago.

Charlotte Bobcats         35-47

New Jersey Nets            34-48

Milwaukee Bucks          34-48

Toronto Raptors           33-49

New York Knicks          32-50

Golden State Warriors  29-53

Minnesota T-Wolves    24-58

Memphis Grizzlies       24-58

OKC Thunder               23-59

LA Clippers                 19-63

Washington Wizards   19-63

Sacramento Kings       17-65

Looking at this list, 5 of the 12 teams have made major improvements to the roster this offseason and another one, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will have a breakout year any day now.  But Washington and the Clippers are two teams that will surely be better than the Knicks next season.  Charlotte will be as good or a little better, since Larry Brown gets his best results after coaching a team for the 2nd or 3rd season and they lose only Sean May from last years team.  New Jersey will be significantly worse without Vince Carter.  Milwaukee will improve if Andruw Bogut and Michael Redd stay healthy.  Toronto will be much better with the additions of Turkoglu and Jack.  Golden State is a wildcard and could go either way, but they have more talent than New York certainly.  Minnesota will win a few more games if Al Jefferson returns and Memphis will probably be about the same.  OKC is a wildcard, but Washington and the Clippers will challenge for the playoffs.  Sorry Sacramento.  From my estimates, I don’t think you can argue that New York is definitely going to be a bottom 6 team and will probably challenge Sacramento, Minnesota, Memphis and New Jersey for the worst record in the league.     And if the Knicks don’t bring David Lee back, I think they are a lock to finish bottom three.  Which, for you mathematicians, means that the Jazz would be guaranteed a top five pick next season.  A top five pick would almost guarantee a fantastic player for the Jazz in next year’s deep and talented draft and more importantly, if the Jazz get a top five pick next offseason, a certain Utah radio personality owes me lunch.

One team’s sorrow will be another team’s joy next offseason.