New York Knicks big man Kyle O’Quinn told Basketball Insiders the team feels the playoffs are possible this season.
At first, Kyle O’Quinn wasn’t sure which direction the New York Knicks were heading this off-season.
The summer after New York drafted Kristaps Porzingis fourth and Jerian Grant 19th, president Phil Jackson pressed reverse and dealt Grant in a package deal for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.
“When I saw the [offseason] moves, I was thinking, ‘Man, we’re really trying to make a push, we’re not trying to develop,'” O’Quinn told Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. “I think this is one of the first teams I’ve been on where it’s pretty clear-cut that they went after guys who they think could help win now.
“In the past, it’s been, ‘Okay, we’ll give this guy a chance,’ or we were signing guys who were trying to find their way into the league. Now, I think if we stay healthy, everyone feels [the playoffs] are possible.”
Following a 32-50 season in which the Knicks missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, O’Quinn is one of few reserve players — Lance Thomas and Sasha Vujacic, included — to remain on the Knicks roster this summer. New York’s hyperactive off-season also included contracts with Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah and Brandon Jennings.
“When I saw the moves, of course I was excited,” O’Quinn said. “Playing with Carmelo [Anthony] is exciting enough, but then you add guys like D-Rose and Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee? That’s so exciting. Now, we’ll just try to create a strong locker room with those guys and enjoy the process.”
O’Quinn averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Knicks last season. His status as back-up big man will be tested this summer. New York added Willy Hernangomez, Marshall Plumlee and Mindaugas Kuzminskas to its front court this off-season.
