No more Melo. No more Jackson. No more triangle offense. The New York Knicks enter this season looking completely different than they did a season ago. The team is still pretty weak, but they should see continual improvements from their young players and will continue to build for the future. The Knicks are not aiming to win the East this season, or will likely not be able to offload the Joakim Noah contract, but they can accomplish a few good things this season. Here are five realistic goals for the Knicks this season.
Get Kristaps Porzingis to become an All-NBA Player
As bad as the Knicks franchise has been over the last few seasons, there has been one saving grace, and that is Kristaps Porzingis. When drafted, little was expected of Porzingis, but after two seasons, the Latvian is a star in New York. There are talks of moving Porzingis to center, which could help his chances at making an All-NBA Team. If he does stay at power forward, there is an interesting comparison to make that could point towards Porzignis making an All-NBA Team as a forward. Porzingis often gets compared to Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki’s first two seasons in the NBA were worse than Porzingis, but he continued to work and improve, and by his third season, Dirk made his first All-NBA Team. With Carmelo and Derrick Rose out of New York, Porzingis will get more shot opportunities and could get the numbers needed to be an All-NBA player.
Make the Frank Ntilikina Pick Look Good
In his last big move before finally being let go, Phil Jackson drafted French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Having played overseas, instead of in the NCAA, Ntilikina is a relative unknown to most Knicks fans. The Knicks could have drafted Dennis Smith Jr. or Malik Monk, two bigger names, but instead went with Ntilikina a safer pick with a lower ceiling. The goal for the Knicks right now is developing Ntilikina and utilizing his passing and defensive skills to complement their young core. With a new offensive system in place, the Knicks should be able to use the point guard efficiently as a rookie and make Jackson’s final move look good.
Flip Enes Kanter or Doug McDermott for More Assets
The return the Knicks got for Carmelo Anthony was subpar at best. Both Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott are fine NBA players, but they both play specific roles and have notable weaknesses. They should help the Knicks be better in 2017-18, but flipping one or both of them later in the season could be best for the organization. McDermott is known for his long-range shooting. Although he only shot 36.2% from beyond the arc with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, his lowest percentage since his rookie season, the team failed to open the floor and ranked last overall in three-point percentage. Kanter is a great offensive center with limited defensive abilities. Either could find a role on a contender and the Knicks would be wise to flip either for more assets.
Box Out/Protect the Rim Better
What one of the most significant aspects of the game the Knicks struggled in last season was their inability to limit offensive rebounds. The team gave up the second most offensive rebounds and ranked dead last in offensive rebounds allowed per 100 possessions last season. With Phil Jackson leaving, the team will change its style of play, and with Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez improving, the team should be better this coming season.
Find More Playing Time for Willy Hernangomez
One of the biggest problems facing the Knicks is their glut of big men. With Porzingis, Noah, Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn, it could once again be a challenge for Willy Hernangomez to find playing time for the Knicks as he enters his sophomore season. Hernangomez averaged 18.4 minutes per game last season, ninth on the Knicks. However, he finished the season third in offensive rating and second in defensive rating. Add in the fact he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team last season and the young center should be getting top-five minutes for the Knicks this season.
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
