Perpetually Lost Knicks Organization Has No "Answer"

I want to say the New York Knicks are the worst-run franchise in sports right now, but a little voice in my head keeps reminding me how the Oakland Raiders gave JaMarcus Russell $31.5 million guaranteed to just yell hike, catch a snap and throw a football anywhere, randomly.  That's truly hard to compete with--I'm 5-foot-9, going on 32, terribly out-of-shape, and I KNOW I can do better than Russell--but the Knicks are right up there with the most dazed and confused.  They're definitely the worst basketball team in the NBA right now.

Sure, their 2-9 record isn't technically worse than the T-Wolves' 1-11 start or the Nets' 0-12.  But the Wolves have eight players who have three or fewer years of pro experience.  The Knicks?  They have eight guys who have at least four years of experience or more.  The Nets have already had eight players go on the IR, including three starters.  The Knicks?  Only Nate Robinson has missed time (six games thanks to a sprained ankle).  Furthermore, anyone who has watched the Knicks this season can attest to the reality they look like a collection of guys off the street playing pick-up ball with little to no organization.  This team is headed nowhere.

So why in the world pass on the opportunity to at least make this sinking ship entertaining to watch?  Why say no to Allen Iverson, when you have the chance to throw him into the perfect situation, one in which he's a cheap rental and he's given 100% free reign to "do his thang?"  Why?


I know Iverson is past his prime and comes with a lot of baggage (yes, he is the idiot who never "got it").  But his unpredictable nature and ability to make improbable shots as a little man surrounded by giants makes him so incredibly exciting.  Give him his minutes, let him skip practice, and the man will give you more passion than Yanni's face could ever express.  The Knicks don't even have a goddamn pulse; for better or worse, AI would give them life.  At any other time in history, this would have been a bad move.  But right now, signing him is the right move.

And Donnie Walsh said no?  Why?  Because Mike D'Antoni didn't want to deal with a potential hassle.  Hassle?  Iverson would be signed just for the rest of this season, for peanuts; if things don't work out, simply cut his ass immediately.  But no, D'Antoni, who, let's face it, doesn't coach--he just throws a ball out on the court and watches--didn't even want to try to make it work.  What's he getting paid $6 million a year to do again?  I forget.

The Utah Jazz own the Knicks' lottery pick next summer so it's not like the Knicks are intentionally throwing the season with hopes of landing a top pick.  I have no idea what this team is doing.  One thing I do know is that Iverson would have been the perfect distraction, a really fun side bet that likely wouldn't have rescued the Knicks but certainly would have saved their fans from going through another miserable, pointless year.