It would be different if Kristaps Porzingis were healthy. It would be different if the Knicks front office took after its predecessors and considered a shortcut to the postseason.
But now there is prudence. There is patience. There is a new coach and a young core, pegged by oddsmakers to win the third-fewest games (over/under: 28½) in the league.
Courtney Lee is an awkward fit in the rebuilding phase. He is 33 and two seasons removed from his most recent playoff appearance. He knows he likely won’t be with the Knicks when — or if — they reach where they envision, but the 33-year-old still hopes to contribute toward the franchise’s long-awaited step forward.