Knicks, Lakers and Celtics have endured a bad spell over last two years…
New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has insisted that the NBA needs the franchise to be a “powerhouse” again along with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
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The Knicks have endured a miserable season this year with a 10-43 record which is the worst mark in the league, but injuries haven’t helped their cause while the rebuilding process has started.
Both JR Smith and Iman Shumpert were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last month, Samuel Dalembert was waived and Jose Calderon amongst others remain on the trade block ahead of the deadline on February 19.
In addition, Anthony is expected to call time on his season as he continues to be plagued by knee soreness and it is expected that he will undergo knee surgery next week after featuring in the All-Star Game.
However, he insists that it is to the benefit of the league as a whole if the historic franchises are competitive.
“The league needs New York to be that powerhouse again,” Anthony said, Pro Basketball Talk reports.
“The league needs the Lakers and Boston to be those powerhouses again.”
Given that New York and Los Angeles are the two biggest markets in the league, Anthony is certainly right to an extent as they have an impact on the NBA as a whole if they are successful.
However, others will argue that their demise has given other teams an opportunity to build a legacy or at least enjoy a new level of success with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks among the teams to emerge in recent years.
With the cyclical nature of professional sports, it was inevitable that the Knicks, Lakers and Celtics would eventually face tough times, but with significant salary cap space this summer and Draft picks in hand, they will all hope to build for the future.
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