OFF-SEASON LOSSES
With all of the additions, the Knicks lost seven players in free agency, cutting ties with late-season additions John Jenkins and Henry Ellenson (Ellenson signed with the state-rival Nets). DeAndre Jordan then joined the Nets, along with Irving and Durant and fueling the fire of the state rivalry. Mario Hezonja joined the Trail Blazers, Emmanuel Mudiay joined the Jazz, and Noah Vonleh signed with the Timberwolves.
A bit later in free agency, Lance Thomas also went over to the Nets, while Trey Burke ended up with the 76ers. Luke Kornet also signed with the Bulls.
Former two-way player Isaiah Hicks is still searching for a team while the Knicks try to determine which of Lamar Peters, V.J. King, Kenny Wooten, or another player entirely ends up with the second two-way deal next to Kadeem Allen.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Knicks have the benefit of playing in the Eastern Conference and are honestly much improved from last season. While they added more players than they have room in the rotation for, the players at least mesh well and can add some intrigue to the season.
As for critics of the team adding so many power forwards (Randle, Morris, Portis, and Gibson), head coach David Fizdale is a huge proponent of position-less basketball, being a student of Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. He said that he will play Randle at the five some, and Barrett as the primary ball-handler.
Presumably, Dennis Smith Jr., Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Morris, Payton, Portis, Randle, and Ellington will all be in the rotation, while Damyean Dotson, Frank Ntilikina, Gibson, and Brazdeikis should also fight for minutes. I also expect them to be joined by Bullock once healthy.
The team’s success is dependent on the growth and success of their young players. Will Randle take another leap? Will Smith, Knox, and Ntilikina finally live up to their high draft positions?
Will Barrett be a star out of the gate? If all of those answers are yes, and the team remains healthy, there is no way the Knicks will not be around the same talent level as the Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Pistons or Orlando Magic.
Currently, I predict the Knicks to finish with a 33-49 record, good for 11th in the East. This would put them finishing ahead of the Bulls via tiebreaker and also the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, but just behind the Hawks. This is the scouting report on the New York Knicks.