After what might have been the most exciting and unfortunate free agency period for the New York Knicks, the roster is nearly complete if not already. Bringing in Marcus Morris and Julius Randle inserts two quality starters into the lineup, but there are remaining question marks and issues that must be addressed.
The youth on the team is still inexperienced and will require time to reach their potential. RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson, etc. All of these players are on their way up but still need plenty of minutes to continue developing their games.
Who says the Knicks can’t win in the meantime? They have the talent to do so, it’s just a matter of building chemistry and a successful atmosphere.
Here are 3 New York Knicks players that could dominate in 2019:
3.) Allonzo Trier
While some might coin Kevin Knox as a potential beakout player, the Knicks have stacked the competition against him. He will have to fight for playing time, and not that Trier won’t, but I see him playing an extremely important 6th-man type of role that can come in and make buckets.
Averaging 10.9 points per game last season, Trier made an impact on the offensive side of the ball, however, his defense is below average. He’s the perfect options to come on and score some quick points, JR Smith style.
Nate Robinson begged the Knicks to give Trier a starting spot in an interview with SNY.TV reporter Ian Begley:
“Hey, New York Knicks, just do me a favor: can you please start my man? Seriously. He’s earned, coach he’s earned it. He’s played great basketball for you coming off the bench, but he can do so much more. I’ve been watching this kid since he was a young guy, 7-8 years old, playing in Seattle, him growing up in high school in a different, going to Arizona and now playing in the NBA. It’s pretty cool man….. I wish the best for him. He plays hard and he’s going to be a treat for the New York fans.â€
At this point, it’s impossible to know where the season will take the Knicks, but Trier has the potential to make a serious impact. His influence is more clear due to his proficiency in shooting, something Knox struggles with at times. Knox prefers to work in the paint closer to the basket, which has posed issues due to the difference in NBA level defenders.
Trier has the advantage of being a better shooter, earning a .448 field goal percentage last season. If he can maintain numbers like that, he can be an impact player for the Knicks this upcoming season.
2.) Mitchell Robinson
This one might not be too difficult to predict. Mitchell Robinson was the silver lining from a season that saw the Knicks finish with a 17-65 record. He set rookie records for the Knicks in the blocks category, swatting away nine shots in just 12 games. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game, which ranked him higher than Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid, two of the NBA’s top players.
To sweeten the pie, Robinson tied Hassan Whiteside for the most blocks in a single game with nine in just 22 minutes. It’s seeming as if Robinson might be the best draft pick from 2018, and he hadn’t played in quite some time prior to being selected. He’s an extremely exciting player with a ton of potential, there’s no question he’s preparing for a dominant season.
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1.) Dennis Smith Jr.
Going into his third year in the NBA, the point guard has all of the tools to elevate his game and establish himself as the starter for the foreseeable future.
The Knicks failed to bring in superstars like Kemba Walker or Kyrie Irving, but at the same time, it almost felt as though they weren’t trying to. They’re confident that Smith Jr. can rise to the occasion next season, and spending all offseason working on his perimeter shot will certainly help.
Adding a consistent shot to his elite athleticism will make him virtually unguardable at times. The potential he offers is simply too enticing to give up on at this time.