If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere Frank Sinatra once said. Who’s singing that tune more loudly these days? Mike D’Antoni? David Lee? LeBron James? If you would like to read an actually good article on this topic, please check out Chad Ford of ESPN.com’s pieceon the Knicks’ dwindling opportunities for success.

So what should a Knicks fan expect for next season? WHO CARES! Every tried and true New Yorker has bought into the idea of mortgaging their future for the prospect of 2010. The Knicks are currently a team of expiring contracts, one season mercenaries destined for mediocrity or less, with a run and gun system the former Phoenix Suns used to run. This is like saying a Yugo and a Ferrari are both cars because they have an engine and four wheels. Under the sleek, crafty guidance of Steve Nash, the high octane Suns went deep into the playoffs every season, whereas New York’s singular output in this regime has been a whopping 32 victories.

New York’s core is comprised of Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, Al Harrington, and the oft injured Danilo Gallinari. The Knicks selected Arizona’s Jordan Hill in the first round of the draft, only missing slightly on Ricky Rubio and Stephon Curry, two players highly coveted by D’Antoni and Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh. Some new faces for the one year wonders are Darko Milicic and rookie Toney Douglas. Milicic will be asked to do the dirty work of rebounding and hitting the outlet, whereas Douglas may be relegated to the D-League for the 2009 season. Some old faces for the year will be Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Eddy Curry, Joe Crawford, and Cuttino Mobley’s insurance covered contract. Not exactly murderer’s row, but you could make an argument that if there was a hall of fame of terrible contracts in the NBA, Hughes, Jeffries, and Curry’s deals would all be on the first ballot.

Anyone who follows the NBA year round is well aware of the Nate Robinson and David Lee contract issues. There’s no reason to make this a complicated subject, the Knicks don’t want to sign anyone prior to the 2010 free agent binge, and Lee & Robinson both not only want long term deals, but to stay in New York. Lee is a proven commodity, as written previously, is somewhat surprising that to present he has not been involved in a sign and trade transaction. Robinson is a more complicated topic, as his recent DUI and associated tweets aren’t doing him any favors in the Knicks or any other team’s view. Nate is often categorized as a (very) undersized shooting guard who may only thrive in the Knicks’ open system of play.

Knicks fans, enjoy the ride. If nothing else, Mike D’Antoni is a hell of a coach, and makes household names out of Al Harrington and Wilson Chandler. The victories may not pile up, but the points will. How the roster shapes up for the 2010 season will be the main topic on the minds of New Yorkers, and whether LeBron can pass up the extra money Cleveland can offer for the limelight of the Big Apple. Until then, put on your seatbelts for another 30 win season.

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