A lottery-night slide, disheartening though it remains, won't decisively prevent the New York Knicks from landing a franchise building block in the NBA's June 25 draft.
Heartsick sighs and exasperated facial expressions filled the Big Apple when the Knicks, who had the second-best chance at landing the No. 1 pick, slipped to fourth in the draft order. Finishing in the top three wasn't just a preference; it was something they were counting on.
Forfeiting that perceived necessity has incited a ripple effect, testing both the Knicks' rebuilding savvy and willingness to roll with the punches, however seemingly devastating.