SALT LAKE CITY — There was anger in the Knicks’ locker room late Wednesday night and anger in Jeff Hornacek’s voice after their 105-99 meltdown in Memphis. Perhaps they were hit by the realization of a playoff race slipping away into a developmental phase.
Whispers are another few terrible defensive performances like the one on Beale Street will set the stage for a Knicks fire sale at the Feb. 8 trade deadline to accumulate more draft picks and 25-and-under players.
The entire brass is on this six-game trip against the Western Conference — president Steve Mills, general manager Scott Perry, director of player development Craig Robinson, director of player personnel Harold Ellis and longtime Knicks executive Jamie Matthews.