How the Kyrie Irving trade affects the Knicks

The Knicks have more reasons than ever to root against Kyrie Irving.

Although he’s leaving the crosstown rival, Irving is joining the team — the Mavericks — that conveys its first-round pick to the Knicks this year. It’s their last reward for trading Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas in 2019. In other words, Irving’s failures, distractions and the general dysfunctionalities he creates can get the Knicks a better player in the draft.

Or, Irving’s brilliance on the court could make the pick less valuable. The Mavericks, who agreed to trade Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and a first-round pick for Irving, are banking on the 30-year-old turning them into a contender. And since Irving will become a free agent after the season, they believe he’ll be motivated to prove his worth.

“More pressure (on him), the better,” a source said.

It’s a risky gamble since Irving is less reliable than milk on the morning of its expiration date, but he’s certainly capable of thrusting the Mavericks (28-26, sixth in the West) to a higher place in the standings. That’s bad for the Knicks but coach Tom Thibodeau declined to give his thoughts on the trade.

“That would be a next question,” the coach said.

James Harden, who forced a trade away from the Nets just a year ago, was equally unhelpful when asked about the trade.

“It’s a trade that happened,” he said.

If he wanted, Harden had reasons to gloat. He was painted as the villain in Brooklyn but he got out of the misery first. Both Irving and Kevin Durant have since requested trades (Durant issued his trade request in the summer, and it was denied).