The time to read the NBA 2023-24 New York Knicks preview. Data, results from the previous season, a look at their squad and their future free agents, the objectives of the course, the player to follow and a prediction about the franchise.
New York Knicks
Balance 2022-23: 47-35 (5th Eastern Conference – Qualified for playoffs).Coach: Tom Thibodeau (4th year).Top free agents in 2024: Evan Fournier (team option), Isaiah Hartenstein, Quentin Grimes (team option) e Immanuel Quickley.History: The 5 best players in Knicks history.
Template
Movements in the market: renewal of Josh Hart for 4 years and 81 million dollars; signing of Donte DiVincenzo for 4 years and 50 million dollars; Derrick Rose signs as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies and transfers Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers.Backcourt: Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, R.J. Barrett, Ryan Arcidiacono, Evan Fournier y Miles McBridges.Frontcourt: Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jericho Sims, Isaiah Roby y Jacob Toppin.
This is how they face the season
It’s been a pretty quiet summer for the franchise. Big Apple. With James Dolan on his multimillionaire duties and without incurring in transfer operations (God forbid), the arrival of Leon Rose as boss of the Knicks has meant a before and after for the direction of the team.
More NBAList of top scorers in NBA history
As usual, the New York press is a rumor-generating machine, and with the clear objective of clickbaitsuch striking names as Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and on various occasions a certain James Harden have already been mentioned for the Knicks.
“And water”, as we would say in ‘Sink the fleet’. No operation has been true, or in the case of Holiday, has ended up falling through. And there they continue Knickerbockers, oblivious to all kinds of gossip, and being practically the same core as last year except for the change of DiVincenzo for Toppin. The rest, Thibodeau’s same soldiers for the same cause. Everyone to row in the same direction to continue obtaining victories with Brunson and Randle as the main offensive references; RJ Barrett would be a step behind, and what I see best for this team is a large block of secondary players, such as Quickley, Hart, Mitch Robinson, Grimes, Isaiah or the recently arrived DiVincenzo who will be very important.
They said in the Media Day the trio formed by Brunson, Randle and Barrett that the strength of the Knicks lay in the “continuity of the project”, and they used Michael Malone’s Nuggets as an example. Those from Colorado won the ring after many years of work (I have eight) and building a good team around Nikola Jokic. The Knicks are still missing a star like the Serbian, but no one can tell the new board that they are not taking the right path. That is, slow, but not rushed. Without crazy operations, or without jumping into the pool for the current star, and on top of that giving away rounds of the Draft.
More NBAMichael Jordan sells the most expensive sneakers in history
Five or six years ago you would have told me that Harden was available, and everything would have pointed to a rushed trade from the Knicks offices. And I’m not wrong. I’m one hundred percent sure. The down-and-out ‘little star’ on duty, dissatisfied with his current situation and seeking fame above any sporting result. This is what the Knicks were like from the early 2000s to practically the present day. And what a change they have made in the last three years.
Rose has surrounded himself with his trusted entourage, always safeguarding the backs of a Thibodeau who has already been questioned on more than one occasion… But they are still there, adding wins, tying up renewals, creating a magnificent locker room atmosphere, and most importantly : Making the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. A complete success after almost twenty years of sporting calamities.
The Top-5 as a goal
And from the script established by management they have left practically nothing to chance. They liked Brunson and went after him, giving him the keys to the team. Randle and Barrett have also been questioned on countless occasions, but they are still there. Randle again All-Star; Barrett being World Cup bronze. And as Thibs said at a press conference: «He is still very young. He is barely 23 years old. Because it seems that more needs to be demanded of Barrett than anyone else, and the boy only does work without any outbursts in a place as complicated as New York.
In 2021 they defeated the Hawks by a resounding 4-1. Last year they showed signs of improvement in the first round against Cleveland, the favorite team, according to expert analysts. But perhaps they lacked some experience in the Semifinals against Miami. Those from Florida arrived amidst cotton, with a roster Fair enough, but they still emerged as clear winners.
The hand of Erik Spoelstra and especially the character of Jimmy Butler did the rest. The Heat were superior throughout the tie. They loved him more and fought him more. Also, a point in favor for the Miami Heat coach who clearly ate the toast of his rival’s board.
The Knicks coach ran out of ideas. Fade to black. Jalen Brunson couldn’t handle everyone. Randle was injured. Barrett was good, but quite intermittent, and the Josh Hart effect was not enough to beat a Heat seasoned in a thousand battles and who would ultimately reach other Finals on their record.
For the next 2023-24 academic year they have accumulated experience (and victories). The atmosphere is unbeatable, oblivious to external noise, which will be an advantage in the short term because practically everyone already knows each other. The objective has not changed, and the Knicks’ task is to place themselves among the top 5 in the Eastern Conference. The competition is going to be tough, but there is no easy road in today’s NBA.
In the Top-2 would be the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, and already in a second step would be the 76ers waiting for the Harden soap opera; Miami Heat, the Cavs, the Knicks and perhaps their neighbors the Brooklyn Nets. More doubts arise with the continuity of the Chicago Bulls, and we will see what happens with the renewed Indiana Pacers, which look incredible and are sure to give more than one scare.
The movements to build
With Brunson, Randle, Barrett and Robinson tied up until at least 2025, the Knicks have extended Josh Hart’s contract and along the way have added a former teammate of his in DiVincenzo. The former Warriors guard is everything the sports management wanted: a seasoned player, with an outside shot and very much liked by his coach. However, as a weak point I see his internal rotation as somewhat lame with the departure of Toppin. Given the physical problems that Robinson has had in the past, only Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims remain as replacements, who this year could also act as a four.
We will see what happens between now and the middle of the season, and above all, whether Robinson’s health respects him. The center is the main defensive anchor and everything begins and ends with him in his fight under the boards. Many Knicks plays began when he regained possession or took advantage of the second chances he generated. And I hope we can see him have another healthy season because he continues to aim high despite his limitations in attack.
Point already left for Immanuel Quickley. Second in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year, and like Hart, he was an essential piece in the last campaign. He seeks the new contract from him. His agent and the Knicks have held negotiations, but without the expected success. If he wants to establish himself in the league and sign those 100 million that he asks for. He better wake up in the playoffs. The Knicks missed his self-confidence, and especially against the Miami Heat. ‘Manolito’ knows it. That’s why we haven’t stopped seeing him work during the summer. In Spain. In Miami. In New York. He arrives in full shape and full of energy, and oblivious to all the rumors, he wants to continue evolving in the Knicks, as he recognized on the first day of the preseason.
What about Fournier?
Another of the big unknowns will be to see what happens with Fournier’s future. Whether he ends up being transferred in the winter market, or if, on the contrary, he finishes the season with them to be free in the summer of 2024.
The Frenchman has been removed to the bottom of the second unit, and as we know that Thibodeau has fixed ideas, it will be very difficult for him to play again, since he does not have him. How do we know? You just have to read between the lines and that ’33 -22′ that the Knicks got in his absence.
Fournier has already asked for more playing time on several occasions, and if he does not receive them, he wants to leave the Knicks. But in exchange of what? His contract is quite high and his value right now is on the floor. We will see what they can get for him, and as we said, if he is finally transferred in exchange for practically nothing or if the same thing happens to him as Derrick Rose due to the contract and he lasts until the end without playing.
The player to watch
In just one month of the regular season, Jalen Brunson already showed how important he was going to be for these Knicks. He steeled himself. He assumed the stripes and took offensive responsibilities away from Randle and Barrett. He wasn’t afraid to take charge of the team, and compared to his best days in Dallas, he improved in virtually all of his stats. Brunson has an outside shot, clutch, knows how to organize and puts effort into defense. What more could you ask for? Let him equal it again. Or improve perhaps.
With the Knicks jersey he averaged his record in points (24); assists (6.2) and in minutes played per day (35). Furthermore, his percentages were more than notable with 49% in field goals and 42% in triples given his shooting volume. He shot more and better compared to previous courses. Where is the ceiling for him? That of leading, why not, the Knicks to the Conference Finals. It would undoubtedly be a finishing touch to their season (a few years ago this was unthinkable for New Yorkers).
NBA Preview 2023-24 New York Knicks, the forecast
Elio Martínez, director of nbamaniacs, leaves a personal and subjective forecast about what he believes each franchise will do during the season in the previous NBA 2023-24.
Give it a like to the current Knicks project: they have stopped chasing stars or impossible goals and have focused on building little by little, without taking excessive risks and with the idea of re-establishing the franchise as a serious place. So what we should expect from New York this year is a direct qualification for the playoffs and a number of victories that is around 45.
Next team: Sacramento Kings.
(Cover photography: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
2023-10-13 13:00:00
#Previa #NBA #York #Knicks
