The signs were there right from the start Friday night on what life will be like for the Knicks as they embark on the rest of their season. The loudest ovation from the Madison Square Garden crowd during player introductions was reserved for Boston point guard Kyrie Irving, a recruiting call from the desperate fan base.
It was a solid strategy the day after the franchise-shifting trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to Dallas in a deal that won’t show its real return until the summer free-agent chase, when the Knicks hope the salary-cap space can turn into stars .