Considering their prolonged history of eyebrow-raising hirings, spur-of-the-moment firings, lopsided trades and questionable signings, there’s very little the Knicks can do to surprise people anymore.

And yet, here we are. The Knicks’ off-season thus far—which has included an uncharacteristic trade for former MVP Derrick Rose and now an apparent agreement on a sizable multiyear deal with free-agent center Joakim Noah—has flipped the script, with the franchise pivoting from a gradual rebuild around Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps...