2008-09 Team Analysis: New York Knicks
Monday, May 5th, 2008 by Stephen Scott
*Sorry for my absence lately, moving and alot of work, but I’m back now, and the Analysis will continue*
New York Knicks
07 Finish: 2nd to last is the East
Caproom?: No
Breakdown: This is a very broken team, in everyway possible. The Best news for Knicks fans is that Issah is gone, so change for the better can finally come in. Now there are alot of places that the Knicks need to address because they have alot of problems. Their bigs are a problem, Zach Randolph has proven hard to trade, but he is the more talented of the big two. Eddy Curry is a bust, for this team. He can score, but for a team that needs to get better on Defense, he doesn’t fit. The 4 and 5 are a problem for this team looking ahead, and the PG position is the biggest. Stephon Marbury’s career as a Knick is likely done, at least starting anyway. This team knows it and I think understands that it is time to move on. The team needs to find a PG who is not a tweener (Nate Robinson), and can play defense. This team has some good players (Jamal Crawford, David Lee, Wilson Chandler, etc) but until they sure up their big holes they won’t be getting better.
Needs: PG, SF, PF/C
Now lets set aside the players who can be starters on this team. Jamal Crawford has shown he can be a dependable scorer at the 2 (or 3, but not as useful) and will be the starting SG this fall. David Lee has shown he can contribute from the bench and from the starting lineup. The best situation for this team based on who is on the current roster, may be to play Lee and Randolph at the 4 and 5, respectively. This would give a good combination of rebounding ability and scoring. This team needs to get a PG, based on the ones available and the lack of caproom, this team is going to have to look at the draft and most likely their first pick. Now at Small forward this team has options, they can work with what they have within, or they can draft someone for the position.
Who should this team be looking at in the draft?
There is no question that the Knicks will be looking for their point guard of the future come the draft. I think there are a couple of names to look at for the Knicks. Derrick Rose would top my draftboard for the Knicks at the PG position, but after that it all depends on who the Knicks rate higher. I see the next best 3 PGs as DJ Augustin, Jerryd Baryless, and Russell Westbrook. Now each player has different problems that put them on the second tier of PGs in the draft. Augustin is a pure point guard, and thats what the knicks need, but he’s short, and for a team that needs a PG that can deliver on the defensive side as well, he won’t be able to guard the bigger guards in the league. Jerryd Bayless is a combo guard, and for the Knicks, I think that may drop him back on the board. He’s a bit of a tweener, and can try to do to much at times. Russell Westbrook could be the best fit out of the second tier. He is fast athletic and works well slashing to the basket. The only question that really surrounds him is can he run a team full time, since he was able to share time with Darren Collision at the Point in college. In the later rounds if the team is looking for a Small Forward, I think a great fit in the second round could be Bill Walker. Now Walker might be gone by the time the Knicks get around to their second pick, but he is a player who had several double doubles and showed that he can be a scorer and defender, but not have to be the number one option (due to his time as the robin to Beasley’s batman).
Who should this team look at in free agency?
I think this team should stay put in free agency. I think resigning Randolph Morris is a great place to start. This team needs to groom a young center, and Zack Randolph will provide until they can really evaluate Morris. If they are looking for someone they can bring in at a low price, that should have some potential for them, I would take a look at Shannon Brown, I think he has the potential to be a starter at the Wing, and could command minutes or even start for the knicks at SF.
Realistic Outlook for 08:
- Starters: PG. Russell Westbrook, SG. Jamal Crawford, SF. Wilson Chandler, PF. David Lee, C. Zach Randolph
- Backup: PG. Mardy Collins, SG. Nate Robinson, SF. Bill Walker, PF. Renaldo Balkman, C. Randolph Morris/Eddie Curry
Playoff or Lottery: Playoffs - 8th?
I think this team can be competing for the final spot in the East. But thats as high as they go. If they can gel together and trade one of their two bigs [Curry/Randolph] then I think they can start truly building for the future.
