While the New York Knicks failed to entice any superstar players to bring their talents to Madison Square Garden, they did manage to bring in several capable veterans that can help develop the young players on the team. Losing out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving likely wrote the word “contention†out of the dictionary for a team that has struggled immensely for quite some time.
However, nothing is impossible and players like Julius Randle and Marcus Morris can surely make an impact and help the Knicks reach the playoffs once again. It will take a “Judgian†effort, for lack of a better term.
For the Knicks to make the playoffs during the 2019-20 season, the veterans will play an integral part in elevating the team through leadership and efficiency. A majority of the squad is inexperienced and youthful, which will force the Knicks to adapt to a different style of play. Randall and Morris will represent the two veteran scoring options that will be earning significant playing time.
The New York Knicks will rely on their youth:
Ultimately, it comes down to how fast RJ Barrett and second-year players Mitchell Robinson, Allonzo Trier, and Kevin Knox reach a point of solidarity and productivity. Â All four players need to contribute in some facet and make an impact on a daily basis for the team to have playoff aspirations.
Barrett struggled during Summer League play this off-season, while Knox showed better vision on the court and more aggressiveness towards the rim. Robinson seems to be improving an astronomical rate and looks the best of the group at this point. Trier is an isolation scorer who is been working on his three-point shot, which will be extremely beneficial throughout the course of the season.
One player that I think will have a surprising impact is Ignas Brazdeikis. The Michigan product was the first rookie to score 30-points during the Summer League this season, also tallying eight rebounds in the same game. He’s an exciting finisher that played just one season in college before taking his talents to the NBA. At just 20-years-old, Brazdeikis is full of potential and optimism.
For the Knicks to make the playoffs they need to score…A LOT. Their defense will likely be the primary deficiency on the team, despite having a prolific shot blocker in Robinson. Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. also must have a fantastic season, as a dud from him would cripple to the Knicks. He’s been working on his jump-shot all summer and should see a better field-goal percentage.