Every year as a Knicks fan, a cycle usually ensues: have a horrible season and be favored for a high draft pick, get a lower-than-anticipated draft pick, make a questionable pick, and sign overpriced players.  This cycle came to a boiling point last year.

First, the Knicks finished with the worst record in the league, meaning that they, along with two other teams, had great odds of landing a generational talent in Zion Williamson.  This prospect was the most hyped draftee since LeBron James.  However, the Knicks landed the third overall pick and missed out on the Zion Sweepstakes.  Then, Stephen A. Smith repeatedly publicized how certain it was that the Knicks would land superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.  He said, “From everything I’ve heard, Kevin Durant and Kyrie are planning to [come to] New York.  95% chance they say!”

Not only did the duo not sign with the Knicks, but they signed with the neighboring Brooklyn Nets.  It was safe to say that Stephen A. Smith was not amused.  After all this, the Knicks made multiple questionable signings and suffered through yet another horrible season.

This year, the Knicks were gifted with good odds for another high draft pick.  They missed out again and landed the eighth pick.  This disappointed many Knicks fans until draft night, when to the Knicks’ surprise, AP Player of the Year Obi Toppin was still remaining on the draft board.  The Knicks quickly snatched him up and YouTube videos of Toppin highlights blew up with eager Knick fans scouting out their newest player.  Along with the eighth pick, the Knicks also had the twenty-third pick and chose to draft Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley.  Last year for the Wildcats Quickley shot 42.8% from downtown, which helped his draft stock.

As of this writing, the Knicks are hopefully on track to recovering from their past misery.  However, one must realize that these are the New York Knicks and the Knicks always find ways to surprise us all.  For now, a change in culture looks imminent with the Knicks making multiple front office changes.  The future looks promising for these young Knicks, but time will tell.