Pre-Draft Outlook
A great point guard can make a big difference. The Knicks added Jalen Brunson last summer, saw huge improvement on offense, and won a playoff series for the first time in 10 years. Julius Randle had a bounce-back season and the Knicks’ bench was critical to their success, especially after they acquired Josh Hart at the trade deadline. But (beyond Brunson) this team really struggled offensively in the postseason and is still a step or two away from competing for a championship.
The Way to Go
The Knicks don’t have any Draft picks, having traded their 2023 first-rounder to Portland for Hart (and with the Mavs having sunk into the top 10). They also don’t have any cap flexibility, with RJ Barrett’s rookie extension set to kick in on July 1. They do have a star point guard to build their offense around, but they need more shooting and versatility around Brunson and they can probably afford to thin out their frontline. They surely hope to bring back Hart (who has a player option) at a reasonable rate.
— John Schuhmann
Here’s a quick look at who the New York Knicks have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Jalen Brunson
G: Quentin Grimes
G: Immanuel Quickley
G/F: Evan Fournier
G/F: DaQuan Jeffries
F/G: RJ Barrett
F: Isaiah Roby
F: Obi Toppin
F/C: Julius Randle
C/F: Isaiah Hartenstein
C: Jericho Sims
Free Agents
G: Josh Hart (player option)
G: Trevor Keels (two-way)
G: Miles McBride (team option)
G: Derrick Rose (team option)
G: Duane Washington Jr. (two-way)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Ousmane Dieng (11)**, Jalen Duren (13)**, Trevor Keels (42)
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal