The New York Knicks are entering a transitional year, but that doesn’t mean there is any less excitement around Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The trajectory of the New York Knicks was dramatically altered on Feb. 6, 2018. Kyle O’Quinn found Kristaps Porzingis cutting backdoor and the Latvian soared for a dunk. But when he landed he immediately clutched his knee. The news of a torn ACL dashed any second-half hopes for the Knicks.
The Knicks couldn’t rebound from KP’s injury and the Bucks took down the Knicks 103-89. The Knicks believed they were a playoff contender with Porzingis. When he went down the team was 23-32 and five games out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Following Porzingis’ injury, they finished the season with a record of 6-21.
Hornacek’s fate was uncertain while Porzingis was healthy, but he couldn’t overcome the loss of his team’s brightest star. He was fired after the season. Steve Mills and Scott Perry decided to take the team in a new direction. Mills and Perry wanted to embrace the youth and work on developing the team’s young talent until Porzingis’ eventual return.
Enter an exuberant head coach hellbent on building a winner in Madison Square Garden. David Fizdale accepted the challenge of New York and he’s ready to prove that he’s the man who can man the sidelines for a consistent winner.
The Knicks won’t win many games this season. Porzingis’ timetable is still unknown and Fizdale will be coaching a slew of inexperienced guys. That being said, this could be one of the most exciting Knicks teams in recent memory. There are a handful of rookies with extremely high ceilings, the team has brought in former lottery picks looking at a chance for redemption, and Fizdale is looking to establish an uptempo, hard-nosed brand of basketball in New York.
Fans will have to suffer through some tough losses, but there’s an aura of positivity around the fanbase. The front office laid out their plan and the fans reciprocated by buying in. The clip below is from a preseason game where the lineup on the floor consisted of Luke Kornet, Mario Hezonja, Emmanuel Mudiay, Damyean Dotson, and Allonzo Trier.
It would be an understatement to say that the fans are excited. They are excited to watch a new coach mold a young team and build a contender. They are excited about the epic return of Kristaps Porzingis to Madison Square Garden. They’re also excited about what possibilities July will hold next summer.
This season is a stepping stone. It’s a year where the youth can gain valuable experience. It’s a year where Porzingis can take all the time he needs to recover. But perhaps most importantly, it’s a year where the Knicks can show potential free agents that they are trending in the right direction.
Roster
# — Player — Position — Age — Height — Weight
00 — Enes Kanter — C — 26 — 6’11” — 250 lbs
1 — Emmanuel Mudiay — G — 22 — 6’5″ — 200 lbs
2 — Luke Kornet — C — 23 — 7’1″ — 250 lbs
3 — Tim Hardaway Jr. — G — 26 — 6’6″ — 205 lbs
4 — Isaiah Hicks — F — 24 — 6’9″ — 230 lbs (two-way contract)
5 — Courtney Lee — G — 33 — 6’5″ — 215 lbs
6 — Kristaps Porzingis — F — 23 — 7’3″ — 240 lbs
8 — Mario Hezonja — F — 23 — 6’8″ — 225 lbs
11 — Frank Ntilikina — G — 20 — 6’6″ — 200 lbs
14 — Allonzo Trier — G — 22 — 6’5″ — 200 lbs (two-way contract)
20 — Kevin Knox — F — 19 — 6’9″ — 215 lbs
21 — Damyean Dotson — G — 24 — 6’6″ — 210 lbs
23 — Trey Burke — G — 25 — 6’1″ — 175 lbs
26 — Mitchell Robinson — C — 20 — 7’1″ — 240 lbs
31 — Ron Baker — G — 25 — 6’4″ — 220 lbs
32 — Noah Vonleh — F — 23 — 6’9″ — 250 lbs
42 — Lance Thomas — F — 30 — 6’8″ — 240 lbs
Positional Breakdown
The Knicks will play positionless basketball. That is the end of the positional breakdown. Thank you.
Well, not really. As much as David Fizdale wants to strip away positions, we’re not quite there yet. The NBA is trending away from the traditional positions that we’ve come to know in favor of lineups where players can switch freely on defense. The need to guard multiple positions has become a staple of playoff basketball. The Knicks won’t have to worry about the playoffs this year, but Fiz’s forward-thinking approach should give Knicks fans some peace of mind.
Rather than separating the roster into point guard, shooting guard, small forward, etc., we’ll look at players in three distinct categories that will give us an understanding of how the lineups and rotations could shake out.
Guards
This group could be renamed ballhandlers. A few players in this category will also bleed into our next grouping, but for all intents and purposes, this group will comprise the guys who will get the lion’s share of the minutes as primary ballhandlers.
Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina are the two guys who will lead the charge for the guards on the team. Burke is adept at running the pick and roll which makes him a prime candidate to handle the ball whenever he’s on the court. Who knows if Burke will stick with the Knicks past this season, but regardless, he’ll be a go-to guy for Fizdale in the backcourt.
Ntilikina will spend a lot of time as a primary ballhandler, but he’s versatile enough to play a few spots. He’s more of a combo guard than a true point guard. Ntilikina could fulfill Fizdale’s dreams of positionless basketball. They’re working on developing his ability to cover anyone and everyone on defense. The Frenchman’s adaptability will be on display on opening night when he starts alongside Burke.
The second unit in the backcourt will consist of Allonzo Trier, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Ron Baker. Trier still has much to prove, but he is impressing every day. He forced himself onto the roster and there’s a good chance he forces himself into a bigger role as the season goes on. Mudiay’s influence seems to be waning. A reclamation project from the start, Mudiay’s minutes could be erratic if he doesn’t develop some modicum of consistency. And of course, Ron Baker is Ron Baker. He’s never going to blow you away, but he plays tough minutes, defends well, and is a consummate team player. He’s a good guy to have in a pinch.
Wings
Most Knicks fans would not have pegged Lance Thomas as a member of the starting unit a few months ago. But despite the fact that Thomas is often overlooked, he’ll play a key role on an otherwise young team. Thomas can play the power forward or small forward and he’s one of the best defenders on the roster. The Knicks need him in the starting lineup for defensive cohesion. He may be pushed out of the starting lineup as the season progresses, but he’ll certainly have a part to play all year long.
Tim Hardaway Jr. could be the team’s most well-rounded offensive player. He could be the Knick who plays the most minutes this season. The Knicks will struggle to score at times and they’ll need someone to step into the role of the go-to scorer in Porzingis’ absence. Kevin Knox has all the talent, but Hardaway is the guy Fizdale will rely on when he needs a bucket.
Knox’s upside is unreal, but fans must expect a few rough stretches for the rookie. In fact, he went through an offensive slump in the preseason that resulted in Ntilikina swiping his starting spot. Knox can excel off the bench and eventually win back his starting role. He’ll see a ton of minutes this year because Fiz has already made it clear that he’s going to let him play through his ups and downs.
Mario Hezonja will see second unit minutes, but the Knicks have no obligation to keep him in the lineup if he’s underperforming. He’s on a one-year deal so the Knicks aren’t heavily invested into the Croatian’s future. He’ll keep what he kills.
Damyean Dotson is on the outer fringes of the wing rotation. He’s stuck in a logjam on the wing and it will be tough for him to garner consistent minutes this season. A former second-round pick, the Knicks won’t feel too bad if Dotson is relegated to the end of the bench.
Courtney Lee’s role in the rotation could be the biggest mystery heading into the season. He didn’t appear in a single preseason game due to a strained neck. The Knicks will probably look to shop Lee to a contender so they can clear out his cap space, but until that happens, he’s one of the best players on the team. It’s unclear how Fizdale will balance playing Lee over younger players who the team needs to develop.
Bigs
This section is for the big fellas. The guys who clean the glass and operate out of the low post. These are the bruisers who should control the paint for the Knicks. The Knicks are likely to play with a lot of smaller lineups — especially with Porzingis sidelined. The main rotation of bigs should consist of Enes Kanter, Noah Vonleh, and Mitchell Robinson.
Kanter is the proven guy in the unit. He rebounds well, scores out of the low post with the best of them, and he’s an energetic defender. His game definitely has its fair share of weaknesses, but he’s the type of player Fizdale can rely on for 25-30 solid minutes on a nightly basis.
How the minutes on the second unit are distributed is something to watch. Vonleh and Robinson can definitely play together, but if Vonleh’s outside shot isn’t much improved, playing Robinson and Vonleh together could be tough for floor spacing. It’s more likely that Vonleh and Robinson compete for minutes. They’ll both see time, but the rotation could vary from week-to-week or even game-to-game. The Knicks would love for Robinson to step right in and perform, but the 20-year-old will undoubtedly go through some growing pains.
Luke Kornet seems to be the odd-man out. A 7-foot-1 sharpshooter, Kornet has some skills and could find his way into the rotation due to injuries or a slow-to-start Robinson. But at least to begin the season, Kornet won’t see much burn.
Isaiah Hicks won’t factor into the rotation much, if at all. Hicks is playing for the Knicks on a two-way contract for the second straight season. He’ll spend most of his time developing in Westchester.
Questions?
When will Kristaps Porzingis return to the court?
Ah, yes. The million dollar question. The one that we really don’t have an answer for. There’s a sliver of hope amongst the most optimistic fans who believe that Porzingis will arrive on Santa’s sleigh for the Knicks marquee matchup against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day. That would be a remarkable turnaround — even for a unicorn. But that scenario is highly unlikely it would seem.
Expect the Knicks to play it safe with KP this season. He could return late in the year and ease his way back into the rotation a la Paul George. But there’s also a chance that he sits out the entire season. During the annual Knicks Town Hall, Steve Mills was measured in his response about Porzingis’ return. He doesn’t sound like he wants to take any chances with the team’s franchise player.
“Our goal is to not do anything that jeopardizes KP’s future as being one of the foundational pieces of this team. So he’s gonna come back — he’s back. We’ll have some medical evaluations of him this week and we’ll start to develop what the right plan is for his plan to come back, but we are not going to do anything that jeopardizes, you know, the future of this franchise and we’re gonna be consistent and stay true to that.”
Will this season lead to a major free agent signing next summer?
This will become one of the overarching themes of this season. Once the season is in full swing, the focus will shift to the players on the floor and the box scores in the morning. The chatter about the upcoming free agent class will die down as the world is distracted by what happens on the court for a change.
But what happens on the court could play a major role when the likes of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Klay Thompson are deciding on their future. The Knicks don’t necessarily need to win many games to catch the eye of a superstar. If Fizdale shows progress with his young corps and Porzingis can return to the court and display that he’s healthy, the Knicks could become an attractive destination.
A year of stability, a surplus of young talent, and a coach with endorsements from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade could help change the Knicks’ free-agent fortunes. Free agency is unpredictable, but even if they fail to attract a major free agent piece, they will be on the right track for sustained success.
Are the rookies for real?
The best part about this question is that we will get to watch this unfold in real time.
In terms of Porzingis’ timeline for a return, that will likely emerge through a few reports, but it’s not something that will keep you on the edge of your seat. For 2019 free agency, the rumors tend to die down during the season. It’s the NBA so there’s always the chance for some behind-the-scenes drama, but the free agency rumor mill shouldn’t be as active for large chunks of the season.
But for the rookie triumvirate of Knox, Robinson, and Trier, Knicks fans will have ample opportunities to watch them grow this season. Knox is the blue chipper of the bunch. The lottery pick with the length and an uncanny offensive ability. Comparisons to Jayson Tatum and even Kevin Durant have already entered the social consciousness.
It’s best to temper expectations because while Knox could very well contend for Rookie of the Year honors, he is bound for some bumps in the road. Of the three rookies, he’ll have the longest leash to “go through it” as Fizdale told the media. Knox will benefit from a major role in his rookie season. Expect him to be the most polished of the three at the end of the season.
We all know the Mitchell Robinson story by now. McDonald’s All-American, left Western Kentucky, took a year off, falls to the Knicks in the second round, dominates summer league, shows promise and a tough attitude in the preseason, and leads the Knicks to a championship in his rookie season. Wait, scratch that last part, but the rest of it rings true.
Robinson is a potential diamond in the rough with a sky-high ceiling that even he might have a hard time dunking on. After taking a year off he’s still incredibly raw. Fizdale has already said that he’ll spend time in the G League to work on his game, but he should see significant action in Madison Square Garden. He projects to be a rim-running and shot-blocking big man in the same vein as Clint Capela or even crosstown rival Jarrett Allen.
The third rookie and the one with the gigantic chip on his shoulder is Allonzo Trier. The undrafted rookie brought in on a two-way contract. He feels he’s a first-round talent and he plans to make a lot of teams regret passing up on him. But he’s also happy to be in New York. Trier turned down a few teams that were considering drafting him in the second round because he wanted to play for the Knicks.
He began his Knicks career with a strong showing in summer league. It was a small sample size, but encouraging. He followed that up with a head-turning preseason run that included a 25-point outburst in the Barclays Center. Another small sample size, but it was enough to convince the Knicks to keep him on the NBA roster until his 45 days of service run out. They’ll figure out who to cut or trade by then, but this shows how quickly Trier is rising on the depth chart.
NEXT: Predictions
Predictions
Predictions are the worst part about this. Anything can happen and most predictions turn out to be completely off — well, at least my predictions. But alas, after all of this analysis, let’s give our humble predictions so our enemies can use them against us in a matter of months.
Danny Small — Editor-in-Chief — Lead Knicks Editor
Final Record: 22-60
Eastern Conference Finish: 14
Team MVP: Tim Hardaway Jr.
NBA Awards: Frank Ntilikina — NBA All-Defensive second team
The Knicks will hang tough in a lot of games, but without Kristaps Porzingis they just don’t have the offensive firepower to win many games this year. But the season will have its share of highs to go along with the many lows. How the youth develops will be the biggest indicator of whether or not this is a successful season.
Geoff Campbell — Staff Writer
Final Record: 33-49
Eastern Conference Finish: 11
Team MVP: Enes Kanter
NBA Awards: None
Over the last decade, Knicks fans have become accustomed to overhauled rosters, a revolving door with at the head coach position, and promises of new beginnings. Yet the cautious optimist inside me believes that this time things will be different. The Knicks have all their first round draft picks for the foreseeable future in addition to young prospects like Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson.
But without Kristaps Porzingis, this team will struggle and look god awful at times. Expect Enes Kanter to put on a show this season and challenge for an All-Star spot at the center position, which is weak in the eastern conference. Tim Hardaway Jr. must also improve on a solid 2017-2018 campaign, and Frank Ntilikina must take the next step in his development. Nevertheless, if David Fizdale can establish a culture while getting his young team to play hard and stay close in some games, then this season will be a success.
Skylar Darel — Contributor
Final Record: 20-62
Eastern Conference Finish: 13
Team MVP: Trey Burke
NBA Awards: Kevin Knox (All-Rookie First Team)
This year should be the last of this long and difficult rebuild for the Knicks. With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined for much of the season, this campaign is focused on one thing: player development. How Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Mitchell Robinson develop will go a long way in predicting what the opening day roster in 365 days will look like. If all goes well, Porzingis, Knox, and Ntilikina will make up a young core that includes a top 5 draft pick from 2019 and, ideally, one-two marquee free agents.
Expect lots of losing, but also expect the beginning of a new culture under David Fizdale. It’ll be an experimental year, and that’s ok for now.
Matt Brooks — Contributor
Final Record: 20-62
Eastern Conference Finish: 14
Team MVP: Enes Kanter
NBA Awards, (if any): None. Kevin Knox finishes fifth in Rookie of the Year voting behind Deandre Ayton, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, and Miles Bridges.
With the team’s star, Kristaps Porzingis, out due to a torn ACL, the team begins the season slow as they adjust to new players and a new system. By the time that this young Knicks roster (fourth youngest in the NBA) learns David Fizdale’s fast-paced offense and strong defensive philosophies, the Knicks are well out of the playoff hunt. With a top draft pick in sight, the Knicks elect to sit Kristaps Porzingis for the remainder of the season to fully rehabilitate him for 2019-2020.
The Knicks finish the 2018-2019 season with the second-worst record in the entire league (ahead of the Hawks) and land a top three pick from a talented draft class. Kevin Knox shows signs of promise by putting up strong averages of 14 points and seven rebounds. While many of his athletic around-the-rim finishes and tomahawk dunks are featured on highlight reels, his lack of outside shooting and shortsighted playmaking proves to be his Achilles heel, and he finishes fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. The biggest storyline is the late-season performance by the Knicks’ other rookie, Mitchell Robinson, who thrives defensively after spending the first few months of the season in the G-League. For the first time in years, the future appears to be bright for the New York Knicks.
Louis Sklenarik — Contributor
Final Record: 30-52
Eastern Conference Finish: 12
Team MVP: Trey Burke
NBA Awards, (if any): None