Draft Outlook
The Knicks enjoyed a resurgent season and managed to tap into the pulse of a frustrated fan base by winning 41 games and reaching the playoffs. The local reaction was over the top — fans stormed the streets following the team’s lone win in the first round — but understandable, given the last few disappointing decades. The club welcomed an All-NBA and All-Star player in Julius Randle, who also won the Kia Most Improved Player award and was New York’s cornerstone player. Other players, such as RJ Barrett, had moments. But the Knicks as constituted are still very much under construction. Only a few players on the roster have upside, and much of the roster will go into the offseason unsigned.
A Stat That Matters
-4.6 — The Knicks saw the league’s biggest drop in points allowed per 100 possessions, from 112.4 (23rd) in 2019-20 to 107.8 (fourth) in 2020-21. They had ranked in the bottom 10 defensively for four straight seasons and in 13 of the last 16.
The Way To Go
The Knicks own their own first-rounder plus the pick obtained from Dallas in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, so there’s a chance to add to a decent young base that includes Barrett, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. They should continue to adopt the best-available-player mentality and refrain from assuming that any position is settled. There should be an emphasis on players who can score. Two potential prospects come to mind at 19 and 21, where the Knicks will choose: Ayo Dosunmu, a guard who averaged 20.1 points for Illinois, and Nah’Shon Hyland, a combo guard from VCU who shot 39.9% from deep for his career.
Under Contract
G: RJ Barrett
G: Norvel Pelle
G: Immanuel Quickley
G: Luca Vildoza
F: Kevin Knox
F: Julius Randle
F: Obi Toppin
Free Agents
G: Alec Burks (unrestricted)
G: Jared Harper (restricted)
G: Frank Ntilikina (restricted)
G: Elfrid Payton (unrestricted)
G: Derrick Rose (unrestricted)
G/F: Reggie Bullock (unrestricted)
G/F: Theo Pinson (restricted)
F: Taj Gibson (unrestricted)
F/C: Nerlens Noel (unrestricted)
C: Mitchell Robinson (team option)
Last Year’s Pick
2020: Obi Toppin (8), Immanuel Quickley (25)*
* = acquired via trade
— Shaun Powell