Phil Jackson’s fire sale occurred nearly one year ago and the Knicks have lived to tell about it.
Last Jan. 5, Jackson waived starting center Samuel Dalembert and sent Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith packing to Cleveland in a three-team trade, breaking up the 5-34 Knicks.
The decision was shaped as a tanking maneuver, but Jackson got roundly criticized for not getting enough back for the Knicks’ two prime guards.
Looking back, with the Knicks visiting Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday, the deal doesn’t look so bad after all.