There is obviously many moves that can still happen. Keels is a tough and versatile player, that if the stars align, might find himself consistent minutes. McBride brings an energy to the team whenever he hits the floor. Prospects, Miles McBride and Trevor Keels may also fight for playing time. Against second units, Fournier’s defensive liabilities can be better protected and give them a burst of scoring in times of slow first unit production. If Fournier loses time to Grimes in the starting lineup, this presents an extraordinary opportunity for the Knicks to have Fournier coming off the bench. Thibodeau will have the ability to test a variety of lineups, with a plethora of scoring options available off the bench. The rise of Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin, and a healthy Derrick Rose, give the Knicks a roster depth that is in upper echelons of the league. He is the epitome of a microwave, because he’s either on or off. Arguably, may also be a better offensive option for the Knicks given the inconsistency of Fournier. ![]() On the perimeter, in addition to the improvement we all suspect from Barrett, I believe we can expect Grimes to play more of a role. ![]() These young centers will give teams playing close to the rim an extremely difficult time. Should Robinson stay on the floor, I suspect he will lead the league in blocks this year. Not to mention, Robinson has emerged as one of the leading shot blockers in the game. The Knicks managed to retain both of their centers, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims. Bullock’s impact on the team defensively was greater than the offensive production of Fournier. The addition of Evan Fournier and loss of Reggie Bullock is a big reason for this change. This means the Knicks allowed 4.1 points per 100 possessions less than the rest of the league, compared to -1.5 in the 22-23 season. The Knicks had a Relative Defensive Rating of -4.1. Will the defense get back to what is was?ĭefensively, the team did regress, but this is largely due to the incredible year prior. It’s not all about what you do on the floor. His work ethic in unmatched and is an incredible culture building personality for the organization. Barrett needs to prove he is worth a max contract and that he can be the cornerstone of the Knicks franchise. RJ Barrett should continue to expand his role and take the leap. Offensively, the Knicks ranked 26th in the league in FG%, FT% and overall points per game during the 21-22 season. The Knicks will now have three legit playmakers that can create their own shot, but also get others involved. RJ Barrett will receive more opportunity, and the addition of Jalen Brunson will alleviate some of the ball handling pressures that caused the ball to stick, leading to poor isolation play. Looking ahead, from Julius Randle and the Knicks offense, we can expect less of the offense to run through Randle. The Knicks franchise have him to thank for their first playoff appearance since 2013. He deserved all the praise and accolades he received. He was an all-star, averaging 45.6% from the field, over 40% from three, 10.2 rebounds and 6 assist per game – that stat line is no joke. Julius Randle was dominant during the 2022-23 season. As does the NBA as a whole.Īs New York fans, we quickly forget. He no longer has the King of New York title to hold and the fans have little expectations for him to produce. Having said that, I think we can expect some improvement from Randle this year. Far too many Julius Randle post ups to count. Can the Knicks improve offensively next season?ĭuring the 2021-22 season, the Knicks offense was predictable and the defense lacked the intensity of the year prior. Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks were moved to the Detroit Pistons to make the necessary cap space. In my opinion this is quality addition, although the move required some roster rearrangement to make it happen. In free agency the Knicks acquired the talented Dallas Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson. Although, the lack of opportunity afforded to him by Tom Thibodeau did play a role. I would include Cam Reddish in this group, but he has yet to show he will be a productive NBA player. This includes young talent such as Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickly. Outside of this core, the roster is stockpiled full of potential. Today, the core returning Knicks unit is Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson. ![]() Let’s dig into this Knicks season preview! State of the Roster ![]() To break this down, we will talk about the offense, defense and depth of the team, considering the returning Knicks players, offseason moves made and the moves still to come. Considering the preseason moves already made, and those still to come, how far can this Knicks team go this upcoming season? An early look at what to expect from the Knicks in the 2022-23 season, with a Knicks season preview.
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