What happened: Los Angeles sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a major draft package to Oklahoma City for Paul George in 2019. The move helped secure Kawhi Leonard’s signing and now frames the examination of New York’s costliest trades.

Why it matters: The NBA’s cap-circumvention ruling compounded the roster cost years after the original deal. It raises the standard for calling any Knicks move franchise-altering rather than simply poor.

What to watch: New York’s 2026-27 results will test whether its current roster construction has moved beyond those earlier mistakes.