NBA News: Why ESPN Is Flexing Out Of Knicks Games

The New York Knicks are playing so poorly that sports network ESPN does not want anything to do with them.

Deadspin reported that in August 2014 when the NBA presented the national TV game schedule, the Knicks were slated to appear on ESPN, TNT and ABC for 16 times total, which is the ninth highest in the league. Out of the 16 appearances, ESPN was supposed to get nine. However, things have gone awry for the Knicks and ESPN is flexing out of their games as quickly as possible.

NBA rights partners like ESPN can flex out of games depending on how well these are supposed to be received by viewers. If a game does not generate as much revenue as expected, the network can decide not to run it. In the same Deadspin report, the network has opted out of the five Knicks games:

1. New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs on December 10, 2014

2. Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks on December 16, 2014

3. Oklahoma City vs. New York Knicks on January 28, 2015

4. New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets on February 6, 2015

5. Los Angeles Clippers vs. New York Knicks on March 25, 2015

To date, ESPN got rid of nine games in all, five of which involve the Knicks and two of which involve the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks broke a new record in franchise history on January 7, 2015 after losing their 13th straight game. The Knicks are currently the worst in the NBA with a record of 5-33. The further trades involving J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to clear their salary cap space are expected to hurt them more. The team has been terrible since Carmelo Anthony took to the sideline and they expect to let their superstar rest throughout the season.

Business Insider said that after presenting the first two Knicks games of the NBA season, ESPN opted out of all Knicks games that they can. The only Knicks game that they cannot flex out of is the February 1, 2015 match against the Los Angeles Lakers since it is the only game placed on the schedule at that time. The two other networks, ABC and TNT, do not enjoy the same flexibility because of their respective Thursday and Sunday game schedules. News Day reported that TNT has two more games left to show the Knicks.

Ben Cafardo of ESPN told Business Insider, "One key element of our NBA deal is that we have the flexibility to regularly re-evaluate and update our schedule to showcase the most compelling matchups throughout the season."