The New York Knicks didn’t enter this offseason with any expectations. This comes as no surprise for the rest of the league, but it seemed different for Knicks faithful to not necessarily be let down with false hopes. With that being said, the Knicks didn’t make any harmful moves for the future and could potentially become a more attractive destination next offseason with improvement from their young players.
New York Knicks Season Preview
2019-20 Season Review
It’s safe to say last season was another disaster for the Knicks. That’s been a common theme for much of this past decade. They finished with a 21-45 record and were not amongst the participants of the NBA Bubble. New York has not played a game since March.
There were a couple of positives, however. R.J. Barrett is a very solid player. He may not have star potential like Zion Williamson or Ja Morant, but he has a clear path to becoming a legitimate player in the league. He struggled to start off the season but finished it quite nicely. His averages were 14.3 points, five rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Barrett will have to improve his shooting, but that typically comes with more pro experience.
Mitchell Robinson is also a legitimate starting center in the league. Last season he averaged roughly 10 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game in 23 minutes on the floor. He’s a great rim protector and an effective post-scorer. At just 22-years-old, the Knicks have their starting center for years to come.
Frank Ntilikina is becoming a fantastic perimeter defender as well, and Julius Randle had another strong season (statistically speaking). Randle’s future may not be clear in the Big Apple, but the other three players need to be locked in for the future.
Offseason Moves
The Knicks were quiet this offseason. They didn’t chase any major free agents, likely to save up for next summer’s class.
Their ordinary acquisitions aren’t going to vault them into the playoffs but should keep them somewhat competitive.
Alec Burks is an underrated scorer and defender and could be amongst the top players off the bench in the league next season. Austin Rivers is a combo-guard with years of playoff experience. Nerlens Noel is another solid back-up and should make Robinson the clear starter. Lastly, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is another veteran with a solid defensive presence.
The biggest move, of course, was drafting Obi Toppin. A New York native, he was college basketball’s player of the year last season. He’s a high-flying rim-runner who has a very developed mid-range shot. Toppin is an athletic forward who will add plenty of value in stretching the floor. His offensive game has drawn hefty comparisons to Amar’e Stoudemire, but to truly be successful he’ll have to improve defensively.
New York also drafted Immanuel Quickley in the first round. The former Kentucky guard will likely face a learning curve in the league, but he can develop into a solid role player.
Expectations
A common theme for the Knicks, the expectations are low. They won’t be a playoff team in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.
They should, however, be slightly better than last season and play more attractive basketball. That’s the hope right now and is definitely within reach.
The priority for this season will be to develop the young talent on the roster, specifically Barrett, Robinson, and Toppin. If they can become clear starters, the Knicks could be a lot better next season with another high draft pick and more money to spend in the offseason. This goal should be attainable, but there’s always another story when it comes to the Knicks.
New York Knicks Season Prediction: 25-47, missing the playoffs and getting another top-10 draft pick.
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