Knicks owner James Dolan doesn’t believe the bad optics of kicking fans out of the Garden — or of a dead-last finish — will spoil the team’s plans to land marquee free agents this summer.
By shipping out Kristaps Porzingis and others at the trade deadline, the Knicks are expected to have enough salary-cap space to sign two maximum-salaried players in free agency. Stars such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker are slated to hit the open market on July 1, and Dolan fully expects the Knicks to add multiple stars and “make the playoffs” as early as next season.