New York Knicks' Nightmare Season Has Future Cloudier Than Ever

It would be easy to act dismayed at the New York Knicks' 102-91 loss to the Washington Wizards on Christmas Day, but really, it was just more of the same.

Derek Fisher's 27th-ranked defense allowed the Wizards to shoot 51.2 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three and rack up 50 points in the paint. As ESPN Stats & Info outlined, the Wizards (20-8) put on a scoring exhibition in the first half as they picked apart New York's lackluster defense:

While John Wall was busy splitting defenders and knifing into the lane at will, the Knicks offense was busy sputtering. Carmelo Anthony dropped a game-high 34 points on 13-of-28 shooting (0-of-6 from three), but as has been the case all season long, the supporting cast failed to provide ample firepower or consistent defense. 

The Washington Post's Jorge Castillo summed things up nicely during the second quarter: 

Now, having lost six games in a row and 16 of their last 17 overall, the Knicks (5-26) are staring down the barrel of a scary, uncertain future. 

Not only is New York nine games out of the playoffs—the Philadelphia 76ers are eight back—but there appears to be no relief in sight for a fledgling group of veteran stand-ins struggling to assimilate to life in the Big Apple.

Following Thursday's loss, the Knicks now own the league's fifth-worst point differential (minus-6.4), according to NBA.com. Only the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves and Sixers have posted lower marks. 

There's also the matter of the injury bug, which has struck Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Anthony. 

As the New York Daily News' Frank Isola reported earlier this month, "Anthony has been playing with left knee soreness for much of the season and the fear is that it may require surgery to correct."

And while Carmelo may be able to delay the seemingly necessary surgery until season's end, the Knicks' continual struggles have made it entirely unnecessary for New York's max-contract star to play out the entirety of the 51 remaining contests.

CBS Sports' Ken Berger recently explained how the Knicks could benefit from shutting the league's fifth-leading scorer down: 

"

So here is the question you are all waiting for: With Anthony bothered by a sore left knee (and bruised ego), should the Knicks just send him to the Hospital for Special Surgery already to have it fixed -- thus avoiding the ignominy of wasting one of the good seasons he has left, at age 30 in the first year of a five-year, $124 million contract?

I say, why not? What's one more lost season and a few less $12 beers if it ensures that the Knicks finally will be able to exercise the rights that come with a premium first-round pick? It's not like Anthony is taking them anywhere but the lottery anyway.

"

To Chris Herring's point, the Knicks have posted a respectable offensive rating of 104.3 with Anthony on the floor, according to NBA.com. But when he rests, Fisher's offense has been downright anemic, recording an efficiency rating of 94.9. 

Simply put, this isn't a team built to excite. The Knicks rank second to last in pace (possessions generated per 48 minutes) and aren't replete with weapons capable of providing steady doses of off-the-dribble creation in the half court. 

Tactical miscues are hardly the Knicks' only problem, though.

Looking beyond this season, president of basketball operations Phil Jackson must find a way to surround Anthony with worthy co-stars. And since Jackson entered the fray, convention has denoted that once Andrea Bargnani and Amar'e Stoudemire were off the team's books, New York would be afforded the financial flexibility necessary to acquire a star.

According to Basketball Insiders, the Knicks could have a maximum of $46.5 million on the books next season, including player options, qualifying offers and the like.

Although that number will give Jackson plenty of room to operate under the cap, trying to sell any prospective superstar on teaming up with Anthony—who's pushing 31 years old—won't be an easy task.

As was the case with the Sixers and Allen Iverson back in the early 2000s, convincing players to put pen to paper in free agency while knowingly sacrificing touches was nearly impossible. Instead, all moves of significance had to be made via trades.

There's also the matter of persuading free agents to embrace Fisher's equilateral, isosceles and scalene tactics within his preferred scheme, according to Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling:

And while dollar signs still entice and the allure of Broadway is forever appealing, it's hard to ignore how many teams are better situated to prosper in both the short and long term than the Knicks.  

In a competitive free-agent market with a salary-cap spike on the way, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which there won't be countless offers flying around to sign the likes of Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic, Paul Millsap, Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, DeAndre Jordan, et al.  

For now, though, all the Knicks have to dwell on is a string of losses.

That said, Anthony exuded a bit of optimism—however fleeting it may be—following the loss, according to ESPN New York's Ian Begley: 

But even if idealism is put on life support at Madison Square Garden for the duration of this season, fans can take solace in the fact that the Knicks haven't traded their first-round pick in 2015. 

Well, not yet at least.