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As Knicks Struggle In Free Agency, Nets Hope To Close Gap In N.Y.

Early results for Nets ad sales on YES are good and could improve as next season approachesNBAE/Getty Images

The Knicks have been "striking out so far" in free agency, and it shows that Exec VP & Senior Advisor William Wesley's connections and charisma "won't draw top players to New York overnight," according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. The Knicks entered free agency with a "league-high $40 million in cap space and with heady visions." They wanted to be a "playoff threat" in coach Tom Thibodeau's first season and "bring glamour back to the Garden." Now they have gone from "potentially being a legit playoff contender (10 teams qualify in each conference) to competing for the No. 1 lottery seed in the 2021 draft" (N.Y. POST, 11/23). In N.Y., Stefan Bondy writes for the third straight offseason, the Knicks "punted free agency." Bondy: "New regime, same strategy. Cap flexibility is MVP." To be clear, there is "sound logic to punting 2020." The free-agent class was "weak after Anthony Davis, who is expected to re-sign with the Lakers after Thanksgiving." The contracts were "enormous and scary, none more obscene" that the Hornets' four-year, $120M deal for F Gordon Hayward. There is a "better draft and free-agent class on the horizon in 2021." As much as the Knicks' strategy "can be justified based on the thin talent of the 2020 class, punting free agency was a surprising move from a front office that has been hyped for its recruiting prowess" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/22).

TIME FOR NETS TO SHINE? In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro noted the Nets will "certainly be among the most intriguing teams" in the NBA next season after being the "No. 2 team in a two-team basketball town from the moment of their inception." On the Nets potentially overtaking the Knicks in N.Y., Vaccaro asks, "If not now, when?" The Knicks "really do seem committed to the long game this time around," so there will be "at least another few years where the only contention will occur in Brooklyn." If it happens, "we will know that it happened." People will talk about the Nets "easily, and it won’t seem odd or out of place." That "hasn’t happened yet, not really," but this time it "does seem to be getting louder, and more prevalent." Vaccaro: "We may be seeing a franchise flip-flop. We may be getting there. We really might" (N.Y. POST, 11/22).

THERE'S A BUZZ IN BROOKLYN: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote YES Network has "every reason to embrace the buzz surrounding Brooklyn." YES will be broadcasting Nets games this season and is "doing a series of Nets 'Hot Stove' shows." Early results for the channel's Nets ad sales are "good and likely destined for higher ground as the season approaches." Raissman: "It does sound like this most 'anticipated' Nets season ever is destined for big things from a TV perspective." Everything, of course, is "predicated on winning and unpredictable issues" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/22).

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