Evan Fournier of Team France drives to the basket against Czech Republic during the second half at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 28, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. Credit: Getty Images/Gregory Shamus
When the clock hit 6 p.m. the official start to free agent negotiations, it took less than a minute for the first deals to trickle in. Lonzo Ball to Chicago leaked out. Then Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. Mike Conley signed on to remain in Utah and Chris Paul agreed to remain in Phoenix.
Left out of that flurry of point guard signings were the Knicks, who entered the free agent market flush with cash and in dire need of help.