Marcus Smart just took an ideal free-agency target for the New York Knicks off the board. In doing so, he highlighted an issue that could continue biting this team as it looks to add another helpful name that has nothing to do with money—and everything to do with playing time.
Oh, make no mistake, money is absolutely part of the equation. The Knicks only have a veteran’s minimum contract to dangle. They could have not matched the money Smart received from the Los Angeles Lakers after negotiating a buyout with the Washington Wizards, or that Bradley Beal got from the Los Angeles Clippers.