CP, John Schmeelk, and JD kicked off another episode of the 2021-22 Knicks Season Preview series with the next set of player expectations.
This time Kemba Walker, Immanuel Quickley and Miles McBride are under the microscope. Catch the full show on all major podcast platforms below.
Here’s a breakdown of the show:
Miles McBride
McBride had an impressive Summer League all-around. His natural shooting stroke and tenacious defense were on display in Las Vegas, showing us why a team coached by Tom Thibodeau couldn’t pass up on him with the 36th pick.
Overall CP, Schmeelk and JD were impressed with McBride thus far, but remain skeptical of how many minutes he’ll get on a Knicks team with significantly improved backcourt depth.
Even so, the guys think there’s a chance that McBride challenges Quickley for minutes if his defensive prowess translates. With coach Thibodeau enamored with defensive intensity, McBride could force Thibs’ hand when a regular season game is on the line. If McBride turns out to be the dog in the NBA that he was in the Summer League, then the Knicks may have gotten a serious steal at pick 36.
Immanuel Quickley
Expectations remain high for Quickley heading into his sophomore season. The All-Rookie Second Team recipient averaged 11.4 points and 2.0 assists on 38.9% from three last season for the Knicks.
The guys agree that Quickley showed enough potential in his rookie season to earn a consistent 20-25 minutes a night in 2021-22. His ability to space the floor with 30+ foot pull-up threes and mid-range floaters make him a lethal bench scoring option with years of growth ahead of him.
CP, Schmeelk and JD agreed, though, that IQ needs to improve on his mid-range jumpers and ball handling if he wants to take his game to the next level. We saw him throw up 17-foot floaters where he could have taken jumpers and, at times, when teammates were open. If he can improve in those two areas he could have a huge impact this season.
Kemba Walker
The last domino to fall this offseason was Kemba Walker. The four-time All-Star returning to his hometown of New York on a buyout was arguably the biggest surprise of the entire NBA offseason.
It’s hard to argue against the Knicks acquiring Walker considering they got him at a substantial discount. A 2-year, $16 million deal for a four-time All-Star point guard is certainly among one of the best Knicks offseason moves in recent memory.
Walker’s knee issues remain the biggest concern – it’s something the Celtics were reportedly weary of as well. Coach Thibodeau already joked that Walker will be playing back-to-back’s, but his playing time and health will have to be monitored closely.
It remains to be seen which version of Walker the Knicks will be getting, because only he knows how his knees truly feel on the floor. When healthy, though, Walker remains a dynamic scoring option at the point guard position.
Knicks Trade Targets
CP, Schmeelk, JD also weighed in on potential trade targets for the Knicks now that the team is inching closer to a deeper playoff run.
The guys agreed that a Damian Lillard trade would demand far too many assets for the Knicks to seriously entertain.
Instead, Schmeelk thinks Zach Lavine would be a better target for New York. He thinks Lavine could become uneasy with the Bulls offseason moves and demand a trade or leave next offseason. Lavine would certainly fit both the Knicks’ timeline and needs at the wing, but whether or not he will be dissatisfied with the Bulls enough to leave remains up in the air.
Let us know what your expectations are for the above Knicks players heading into next season in the comments below! Be sure to stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors and recaps heading into the 2021-22 season!
In case you missed it, catch Knicks Fan TV’s previous episode of 2021-22 Player Expectations below!
