New York Knicks
The suffering Knicks fans have been dreaming of a scenario in which they go into next season with a core of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis (who they would presumably get from trading Kevin Knox, their 2019 first round pick, and contract fillers). This isn’t going to happen. Sorry Knicks fans, but the LA Clippers are a far better team for stars to sign with.
Weather
On the surface, this might be the most trivial category of the three, but it is a valid variable to consider. Consider this: When was the last time a big-name, unrestricted free agent left their team and moved North? Gordon Hayward and Al Horford come to mind, but that’s about it. LeBron James also moved North in 2014, but that was to fulfill a decade-old promise.
On the flip side, who has relocated to South? LeBron (twice), Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, and Tom Chambers. While their longitude didn’t drastically change, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Durant, and Steve Nash have all left their small-market teams for the toasty Southwest as well.
Again, the temperature might not be the biggest determinant for many free agents, but people from the Northern U.S. can attest that the winters are awful.
A Star’s fit
Whether the big-name free agents sign with the Clippers or the Knicks, they are bound to become the best player on the roster. It just a matter of who their supporting cast. Anyone that signs with the Knicks (who boast the league’s worst record) will be stranded, while anyone who signs with the Clippers will be with a group of role players who competed the entire season. The Knicks have some nice young talent in Dennis Smith Jr., Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson, but they come up dry on players who can consistently contribute to a winning team.
Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, and company are the perfect supporting cast for any star looking for a new home.
Management History
While the Clippers’ “promise” to make Blake Griffin a Clipper for life fell flat, it doesn’t even measure up to some of the bonehead moves made by the Knicks. To begin, they have the most sensitive and temperamental owner in basketball. James Dolan has made impulsive decisions and has put very questionable people in charge. He gave Phil Jackson power and sat back to watch him drive the franchise even further into the ground. They have treated Carmelo Anthony terribly, given up on young talent early, and given far too much money to the likes of Courtney Lee, Lance Thomas, and Joakim Noah.
While Scott Perry has made some moves to cut money and dig them out of this hole, the Knicks still have the stigma of dysfunction and it is beyond me as to why anyone would want to sign with them.