Should the New York Knicks keep Emmanuel Mudiay?

New York Knicks point guard, Emmanuel Mudiay.
Nov 28, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks guard Emmanuel Mudiay (1) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Jimmy Butler (left) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have a few tough decisions to make this upcoming offseason as the 2019 NBA Draft looms and the player of choice is clearly Duke’s, RJ Barrett. However, finding a serviceable point guard in free agency will be a priority, as Dennis Smith Jr. is good but not great.

A player in flux is Emmanuel Mudiay, who had a solid 2018 season averaging 14.8 PPG, shooting 44.6% and 32.9% from downtown. These were all career-highs for the former first-round pick in 2015.

He ultimately was the most consistent starter on a bad Knicks team, given the lack of veteran leadership and the abundance of youth. He was their best player at times, but that’s just a testament the Knicks’ 17-65 record. There’s no question the organization needs to bring in several high-profile players to turn the tables on a struggling team.

The New York Knicks might be better off letting Mudiay walk:

I don’t know if the fan-base can take much more of this misery. Unfortunately for the Knicks, Mudiay’s price-tag will elevate in his fifth season. The $4.2 million he earned last year will not get the job done again, so New York has to make the decision to either let him walk or bring him back as a reserve option. I can’t imagine they will bring him back as a starter with players like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker available in the free agency.

The 2019 offseason will be about maintaining as much cap space as possible in hopes of landing a max-contract player like Kevin Durant. A young team featuring Mitchell Robinson, Allonzo Trier, Smith Jr., Kevin Knox, and Damyeon Dotson, will draw interest to veterans looking to lead their own team into the abyss.

The talent on the roster is a bit underdeveloped, but a long and grueling 2018 season has surely given them the grit needed to win in the future. The hope is that bigger and better players feel the same way.