2023-24 season: 50-32
highlight: Jalen Brunson has become a near-superstar and a legitimate playoff contender, cementing himself as the future of New York Knicks basketball.
how it ended
Painfully so. literally. The Knicks lost Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mitchell Robinson to injuries late in the season, as well as the rest of the cast, Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby (who returned in Game 7), so they looked like they were dead. He was healthy. ) — was playing through an injury and playing with intensity.
Essentially, the Knicks entered the second half of the season with a real claim to being the deepest team in the Eastern Conference, but ultimately stalled, ultimately causing a playoff exit, while losing their backup point guard. Miles McBride had to start multiple games. game.
Needless to say, it's impossible to criticize New York too harshly for its empty gas tank. Rather, the main takeaway from this season is how close they are to being a major powerhouse in the Eastern Conference pending the re-signing of Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Additionally, with three starters out, the rest of Tom Thibodeau's squad stepped up to the plate, ultimately resulting in a better, more disciplined NBA player as a direct result.
McBride will enter next season considered one of the best backup point guards in the league. More than just a role player, Hart will be seen as a big key to his success with his versatility as a rebounder, playmaker and energy source. Regardless of where he ends up, Hartenstein is considered worthy of being a full-time starter and will be going into the summer.
All of this presents some challenges for the Knicks in terms of keeping the team together long-term. However, given that New York has Brunson, Hart, and McBride all on very team-friendly contracts, a path to keeping most of this roster intact seems plausible.
What you need most in the off-season
Is being a sorcerer a realistic question? Injury prevention strategies aside, the Knicks have proven to be fine late in the playoffs without Randle, who has played outside of the offensive line for years, so there's a good chance they'll find a new power forward. be. If they can terminate his contract and replace him with someone who better fits the makeup of this roster, that would be an attractive option.
draft focus
Kansas senior Kevin McCuller Jr. could provide immediate scoring in the secondary, and the Knicks could score in the first round with freshman guard Carlton “Bub” Carrington from Pittsburgh. There is also. The second-round pick could be used as a draft-and-stash pick, with options including Justin Edwards, a 6-foot-8 guard from Kentucky, and Melvin Aginza, a 6-8 wing from France. There is a possibility that
Draft picks: No.24, 25, 38
salary cap analysis
With Anunoby's cap hold, the Knicks will definitely be the team over the cap this summer as they continue to stay over the line. The 3&D forward is also expected to earn an annual salary that would make him the highest-paid player on the team.
Assuming Anunoby is okay, Hartenstein is next. The Knicks only have early bird rights to him, so they are limited in what they can offer. That said, Hartenstein's open market value may not deviate significantly from the Knicks' offer, so he could return. This is a big summer for the Knicks, and they will need to take thorough measures if they want to bring back most of their roster.
key free agent
OG Anunoby (UFA — assuming he declines his player option)
Isaiah Hartenstein (UFA)
Alec Burks (UFA)
Precious Achiuwa (RFA)
Goals for next season
Stay healthy and get further into the playoffs. This team is built to compete right now, and if they can keep the right players, they could have a great five-year run. The possibility that the finals will be held in the near future cannot be ruled out.
What moves the fantasy needle?
Talk about subverting expectations. The Knicks have shown significant improvement with Brunson's tremendous growth and the improved play of Donte DiVincenzo and Hart. DiVincenzo and Hart took full advantage of that rise within minutes and became valuable assets for fantasy managers. Injuries and midseason trades left that time open, but the chemistry between the trio of former Villanova Wildcats was clear.
Thibodeau's coaching ethos of spending a lot of time as a starting unit and running tight rotations tends to bode well for fantasy purposes until a player gets injured. As a result, McBride and Achiuwa had a chance to shine, and the Knicks' underrated depth supported them and their visionary manager at various times. Hartenstein is also a gem, becoming one of the best Weber pickups this year after Robinson went down with an ankle injury in December. Hartenstein finished the year 75th in the league, but the Knicks should try to bring him back.
The Knicks now have a pivotal decision to make regarding Randle. He rose to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and was one game away from making the conference finals without him, but his team's success raised some questions. There is a possibility that Randle will be transferred. If Randle stays with the Knicks, he should still be a fifth- or sixth-round pick.
Additionally, Anunoby's likely decision to opt out of his $19 million player option adds to the intrigue of the upcoming offseason. Change is definitely on the horizon, but the Knicks feel like they're in the best position they've been in as a franchise in 20 years.
