Now that the massive wave of negativity and disappointment is over, I'd say it's was a decent off-season. The Knicks maintained cap flexibility, all of the signings were team friendly and most of the guys have potential to be long term fits. Julius Randle is a great player- he's a face up monster and will carry on the bully ball torch-, Portis is a long range sniper and is a high level back up who can see minutes at both front court spots, Taj Gibson's play hasn't really dropped over the years and he's a high character guy, and Wayne Ellington and Bullock are lights out shooters on extremely friendly contracts, and playoff hopefuls will be looking to trade for guys like them at the deadline, so either one can likely net a draft pick before the year is out. All of the aforementioned players make the Knicks an actual NBA team, and they'll all help Knicks start to establish a winning culture. If RJ Barrett is the player we're hoping for, and if any of the younger players can take a decent step forward ( I think they will), and if Fizdale is the coach he's been touted to be ( I think he is ), then The Knicks can compete for that last playoff spot and be like a 30-35 team. A 35 win season doesn't seem significant, but the Knicks gotta take baby steps at this point. It's fine if the Knicks barely whiff out on a playoff spot and end up in the lottery though; it's gonna be a deep draft next year so that pick is gonna be pretty valuable, for trade fodder or otherwise.
Also, Charlotte is gonna be terrible,the Knicks have two of their second rounders and they're looking like they'll be in the high 30's, so they become decent trade assets now. The Mavericks are striking out in free agency, and the west is still deep, so they might not make the playoffs next year. The Mavs are likely a year or two away from competing and that the 21' pick can end up a lottery pick. At the very least though, if the Mavericks miss the playoff's next year, Perry will then have a chance of convincing other teams that the pick will be good, so he can sell high on that pick in a trade. Most of all, the Knicks are putting themselves in the position to trade for a star at some point. Someone like Beal could be available for trade later next season. Now, I don't think Washington is actually looking for a trade for Beal right now and the rumors of it are currently media driven ( modern day sports journalism= take a plausible scenario, say it will happen and attribute it to made up "sources") but Washington will be god awful next year too; Beal might wanna get the fukk out of there and demand a trade. The Knicks can make a trade for Beal and play Barrett at the 3 long term, but that's just one hypothetical-who knows what will happen and who will be available over the course of the next two years? What's important is that the Knicks will finally be in good position to make a trade and not have to fret over buyers remorse.
Some of this is glass half full thinking, but shyt man, the Knicks can't be unlucky forever
Now that it's all over I actually feel cautiously optimistic about the future.