DALLAS—If the crumbling Los Angeles Lakers are the picture of NBA dysfunction at the moment, they’re at least helping the Knicks look normal.

The disagreement between Knicks swingman Arron Afflalo and interim head coach Kurt Rambis continued here on Wednesday as the Knicks, already eliminated from playoff contention, prepared to play the Mavericks. Rambis, who has moved Afflalo out of the starting lineup, reiterated that the Knicks feel the 30-year-old guard is “somebody who can make a major contribution for us coming off...