The New York Knicks are a mess at point guard, how will things shake out?

New York Knicks, Elfrid Payton
Dec 11, 2019; San Francisco, CA, USA; New York Knicks guard Elfrid Payton (6) reacts during overtime against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are a complete mess at the point guard position, utilizing a bevy of veterans and young options. Ranging from Frank Ntilikina to Austin Rivers, the Knicks are taking a hot hand approach at the position and are hoping to develop some of their rookies over the next season.

Myles Powell and Immanuel Quickley will both be competing for reps, but we can’t forget about Elfrid Payton, Dennis Smith Jr., and Jared Harper.

The Knicks have to sift through seven different players to find their true starter, and I imagine it will be Payton, who offers solid defense but also decent offensive attributes. He signed a one-year extension with New York worth $5 million, after averaging 10 points and 7.2 assists last year in The Garden. His high assist numbers attest to his ability to move the ball, but he is not an elite score by any means.

If the Knicks are looking for points, they should focus on Quickley and even Powell. Quickley is a smooth shooting guard who will likely act in a Tim Hardaway Jr. role in the future. He has the ability to play point guard, but I don’t believe he will be a primary candidate for the position. I am listing him here based on his qualities and the potential he holds. However, Powell, a Seton Hall product, is one of the more underrated players on the list.

Here’s a list of all the New York Knicks’ point guards:

-Frank Ntilikina

-Elfrid Payton

-Dennis Smith Jr.

-Myles Powell

-Immanuel Quickley

-Jared Harper

-Austin Rivers

Powell is an all-around solid player, averaging 21 points, 2.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds last year in the Big East. The transition to the NBA will not be easy, but he is a talented player with some solid shooting ability and game manager qualities.

In fact, I believe Paul will end up being the starter by the end of the 2021 season since the Knicks don’t really have a solidified player at the position. Of course, they would prefer Dennis Smith Jr. to overcome his technical deficiencies and confidence issues, but that ship might have sailed.

Smith has been working with a shooting specialist, but all of his hard work seldom reflects during live action. However, new head coach Tom Thibodeau was enamored by Smith when he was drafted back in 2017. He has fallen off every season since, posting just 5.5 points per game and 2.9 assists over 15.8 minutes played on average last year. Nonetheless, at 22 years old, he is still in his prime and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Who do you think will emerge as the starter for the Knicks next season? Comment below!