{"id":1065,"date":"2016-10-03T08:00:38","date_gmt":"2016-10-03T12:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2016-10-01T23:23:35","modified_gmt":"2016-10-02T03:23:35","slug":"new-york-knicks-roster-power-forwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2016\/10\/03\/new-york-knicks-roster-power-forwards\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Knicks Roster Breakdown: Power Forwards"},"content":{"rendered":"

NBA<\/em><\/strong> fans around the world: rejoice. The 2016-17 NBA season is quickly approaching. Over a five week span,\u00a0Last Word On Pro Basketball<\/strong> will provide a breakdown of the\u00a0New York Knicks<\/strong> roster, looking at a different position each week. With two positions remaining, we break down New York’s power forwards.<\/em><\/p>\n

New York Knicks Roster Breakdown: Power Forwards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Knicks have found themselves a franchise cornerstone for years to come at the power forward position. Obviously, Kristaps Porzingis<\/a><\/strong> is the\u00a0starter going into the season. The more pressing question concerns who\u00a0will get the minutes off the bench backing him up. Will it be New York’s\u00a0underachieving veteran? Or will it be the energetic but very raw free agent acquisition? It’s time to break down the power forwards on the Knicks roster.<\/p>\n

Starter: Kristaps Porzingis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kristaps Porzingis has had to deal with a wide range of emotions from Knicks fans. The fourth overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft<\/strong> received a chorus of loud boos on the night he was drafted. He spent the entire 2015-16 season changing the minds of everyone who had booed him. He accomplished that goal by the end of the season. The majority of New York fans now consider Porzingis to be\u00a0the savior of the franchise.<\/p>\n

The 7’3″, 240-pound big man averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 28.4 minutes per game last season. His average of 1.9 blocks per game was good for seventh in the league. Porzingis finished second in\u00a0Rookie of the Year <\/strong>voting behind Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a><\/strong> of the Minnesota Timberwolves<\/strong>. The key for Porzingis this season is to keep improving in all aspects of the\u00a0game and avoid\u00a0the dreaded sophomore slump.<\/p>\n

Primary Back-up: Kyle O’Quinn<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kyle O’Quinn<\/strong> has, by all accounts, underachieved since joining the Knicks. The New York native signed a four-year, $16 million contact in the summer of 2015. After a lackluster start to the season, O’Quinn fell out of favor with then head coach Derek Fisher<\/a><\/strong> and ended up getting buried\u00a0on the bench. Injuries to the players ahead of him and a coaching change contributed to an increase in O’Quinn’s minutes towards the end of the season. O’Quinn\u00a0ended up averaging just 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season.<\/p>\n

Rebounding was thought to be one of O’Quinn’s\u00a0strengths, considering his 6’10”, 250-pound frame. O’Quinn only managed to reach double figures in rebounds four times last season. Entering his fifth season in the league, O’Quinn will be looking to capitalize on any opportunity that he is given. If he continues to underachieve, there’s a raw young forward on the Knicks’ roster eager to contribute.<\/p>\n

Third String: Maurice Ndour<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Maurice Ndour<\/strong> is looking to use training camp to earn a spot on New York’s roster. This is the second year that Ndour has attempted to make the team. He was a fan favorite during the 2015 summer league before being cut by the Knicks. Ndour averaged 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in six summer league games. His best game of that summer was when he scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds against the\u00a0Philadelphia 76ers<\/strong>. Ndour signed a partially guaranteed two-year contract with New York this past off-season. He’ll make\u00a0 $437,318 this season. His deal would pay him\u00a0$905,249 in the 2017-18 season, but that year\u00a0is non-guaranteed.<\/p>\n

Ndour has definitely taken the scenic route getting to the NBA. He was born in Sindia<\/strong>, Senegal<\/strong>. He then attended high school in Okayama<\/strong>, Japan<\/strong>. The 6’9″, 200-pound forward then came to America<\/strong> and went to college at\u00a0Ohio University<\/strong>. In two seasons there, he averaged 14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 32.3 minutes per game. Ndour was ultimately\u00a0cut by both the Knicks and the\u00a0Dallas Mavericks<\/strong>\u00a0early last season. He proceeded to spend\u00a0the year playing overseas.<\/p>\n

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It’s possible that not all of these three players make the final New York Knicks roster. The ones who\u00a0do not make it have options. The NBA\u00a0Development League<\/strong> is a place where they can receive valuable playing time. That would end up helping both the player and the team in the long run.<\/p>\n

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Main photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n