New York Knicks: Have They Done Enough To Be Offseason Players?

The 2020-21 NBA season is in its second leg and the New York Knicks have one eye on the playoffs and the other on the offseason. For the first time in years, the Knicks could be a frontrunner to land talent.

The Knicks, unless a late-season collapse happens, should find themselves in the playoffs this year. It’s great news considering the down years they’ve faced since the Carmelo Anthony/Phil Jackson era. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and it starts this offseason.

The Knicks can use Julius Randle as a selling point. “We have an All-Star player”. Their other selling point is youth. The Knicks have a high ceiling but they’re missing a few pieces. One, in particular, is a solid PG. Elfird Payton is not the answer and Derrick Rose appears to be better suited coming off the bench.

What the Knicks will face here is that it’s very slim pickings in the PG free-agent class. Kyle Lowry is available and so is Chris Paul but it all depends on what the Knicks are in the market for.

Randle has a lock at the PF position. The Knicks may need to search for a new man in the middle if they believe that Mitchell Robinson has reached his ceiling. If that’s the case, then a move for Andre Drummond or Hassan Whiteside will make sense. Neither player will be cheap but the Knicks will have the funds to toss out a max contract to either player.

Another area of concern is the SF position. The Knicks can do a plug and play with RJ Barrett or Alec Burks and look for a solid contributor at the SF of SG position. DeMar DeRozan could be at play here and so will be Evan Fournier, and possibly a reunion with Tim Hardaway Jr. Either one on this list can play both positions.

They have options and while top free agents such as Victor Oladipo, Mike Conley, and Kawhi Leonard may look elsewhere, all is not lost in NYC. For the Knicks to make waves this offseason, they must first continue to turn heads this season.

A first-round exit is not as bad as it sounds but these Knicks have proven they can turn the heat up any given night. Imagine the selling point to potential free agents with a first-round win.

This is a new era in New York. The New York Knicks are producing on the court, their owner James Dolan is silent off the court and the fans are standing behind them. New York City has always been a hot destination for players but the lure of the Orange and Blue has faded over the last few seasons.