The New York Knicks went all-in this offseason intending to contend for an NBA championship. They likely won’t come close to reaching their title aspirations in 2016-17, but they should be on the radar for a potential return to the playoffs. The Knicks are certainly trending in the right direction with a strong cast of veteran players that should be able to finally end the club’s postseason drought this season.
Offseason Changes
Phil Jackson was criticized for the veteran talent that he brought in but the reality is that his gamble could pay off big time if the Knicks take a major step forward this season. New York won’t contend for a championship but in the era of super teams in Golden State and Cleveland, there aren’t many teams that have enough talent to contend for a title anyways. The Knicks should be that much more formidable with Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings, Courtney Lee, Sasha Vucacic and Joakim Noah joining Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis in the big apple. New York didn’t have a first round pick but Jackson did substantially upgrade the talent level of his roster.
Strengths
The Knicks starting five should be improved with Rose and Lee as their new backcourt tandem. There are obvious question marks about whether or not Rose can stay healthy but if he can then New York’s backcourt production will be substantially better than it was a year ago. Vujacic, Jennings and Justin Holiday should produce in reserve roles and Jennings should be capable of stepping in to the starting lineup if Rose is hurt so if nothing else the depth is certainly better. Meanwhile, Porzingis has a full year of experience under his belt so he should be primed to take another step forward after impressing in his rookie season. With an improved cast of talent around him, there will be no excuses for Anthony not to step up and show the elite talent that made him a star in the first place.
Weaknesses
Perhaps the biggest question mark is whether Noah can stay healthy after injury-plagued seasons with the Chicago Bulls. New York doesn’t have very much depth at the five so they will need Noah to stay healthy. Injury concerns will be a factor all year. But that same theme is present across most of their roster. Can Rose stay healthy? He has a long history of injuries. Can Brandon Jennings get back to form after a serious injury? Can Carmelo Anthony stay healthy? This is a roster that looks good on paper but they might not be able to last the season. And beyond that, are any of these players as good as their brand name suggests? Names like Rose, Anthony and Noah are coming off mediocre seasons; they are no longer All-Stars.
The other factor on this team is to consider is depth. While the backcourt depth has improved, the New York Knicks are still a little thin on the front lines. The New York Knicks would have benefited from adding another veteran center or another experienced wing that is capable of shooting the three-ball.
Outlook
The Knicks have been one of the most criticized teams this offseason but in a number of ways, they deserve more credit. Jackson rolled the dice on some considerable talent and the payoff could be substantial if things go according to plan. Rose, Lee, Anthony, Porzingis and Noah make up a formidable starting five. At the very least, this is a lineup that should get the New York Knicks back to the playoffs – assuming that head coach Jeff Hornacek is a good fit. In New York, that will be a success. And if the Rose experiment doesn’t work, it’s not a big deal because his contract is expiring and the Knicks will have plenty of cap space to work with next year.
The majority of basketball pundits will write them off but we have a different view expecting that the Knicks stay relatively healthy and challenge for a playoff spot in 2016-17. If they get the right matchup in the first round, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they made it to the second round.
Prediction: 3rd in Atlantic Division; 6th in Eastern Conference
