It wasn’t much of a Merry Christmas for Knicks fans. And it certainly wasn’t a Merry Kristaps.
A lot of has changed for the worse since last Christmas when the Knicks played the Bucks, waiting on Kristaps Porzingis’ return from knee surgery.
As the Knicks sat out the NBA’s Christmas card Wednesday, a dark shadow hovers over the franchise — a mood of pessimism over progress.
Team president Steve Mills was the first executive this season to fire his coach, David Fizdale, and his own status is in question.
As the Knicks travel to Brooklyn on Thursday, the club is stumbling through a 7-24 campaign with an interim coach in Mike Miller, a roster dotted with one-year contracts and a thin 2020 free-agent class.
However, one individual who has spoken to team brass told The Post the front office still clings to the hope its cap flexibility will pay dividends down the road, even though the upcoming free-agent landscape looks bleak because of Anthony Davis’ rousing success with the Lakers.
In the dream scenario, the Knicks, according to the source, envision being in good position to make a blockbuster trade for a star player who could grow “disgruntled’’ with his current situation.
The NBA’s recent past is full of such cases — Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Davis.
Wizards star shooting guard Bradley Beal, who scored 30 points at the Garden on Monday, had been on the Knicks’ radar but signed a long-term deal in October. He’s still on a lousy Wizards’ club in a mediocre NBA market.
Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday is said to be on the trade block and there’s been rumors in the past about Portland’s Damian Lillard looking to play in a larger market.
According to the source, another player the Knicks are expected to monitor is local product, Karl Anthony-Towns, the Timberwolves’ 24-year-old superstar who also signed a max extension this summer.
In an era when stars have shunned the Knicks (Irving, Kevin Durant, Kemba Walker, Leonard), it’s only logical Towns would intrigue the front office.
The first pick of the 2015 draft, Towns hails from Metuchen, N.J., and grew up a diehard Knicks’ fan. If he sought a trade, his wish list figures to include the Knicks.
The Timberwolves have enjoyed little success during Towns’ tenure and are currently on an 11-game losing streak, dropping to 13th place in the Western Conference at 10-19. Towns, averaging 26.5 points and 11.7 rebounds, has been out the past few games with a knee sprain.
At least on Christmas Day, it was worth writing to Santa Claus about — that Towns ultimately gets tired of Minnesota’s snow and losing and prefers to come home.
A blockbuster trade for any star is why the Knicks coveted two first-round picks (2021 and 2023) in the Dallas package for Porzingis. By the Feb. 7 deadline, they could well add another late future first-rounder for Marcus Morris. Team brass believe that will be Morris’ market value.
Milwaukee stud Giannis Antetokounmpo is a free agent in 2021 and could want a bigger stage. But “The Greek Freak’’ has no ties to New York other than bad thoughts about brother, Thanasis, not being treated well while with the Knicks organization.
Former team president Phil Jackson picked Thanasis late in the second round in 2014, but he only made two appearances. Thanasis is now a little-used Bucks reserve.
Four days before last Christmas, Mills spoke to beat writers and indicated Porzingis could be ready to play soon after a mid-February evaluation.
On this Christmas, Porzingis toils in Dallas and the Knicks can only harbor dreams their Christmas tree will feature more ornaments next Dec. 25.
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