The New York Knicks are in their offseason and they need to decide which free agents on their roster they want to keep or cut.
As the NBA Playoffs continue, the New York Knicks offseason is underway, and there are so many questions that need to be answered. Such as: should the Knicks extend Randle? Who should the Knicks draft? Should the Knicks package some of their draft picks and trade for an established player or move up in the draft?
Those are just some of the many questions that will be circling the Knicks this summer.
But the question that needs answering: How will the Knicks maneuver Free Agency?
I plan on diving deep into this topic by looking at free agents for all the positions this offseason. But before we can look at the free agent market, the Knicks must make decisions on their own roster when it comes to free agency.
So let’s begin.
Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose was spectacular this season. Watching him fight his way back from multiple injuries throughout his career to become a top-three 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year candidate is quite a story.
But it’s not shocking that Rose finished so highly for the Sixth Man award. After all, he was a key contributor to the Knicks’ success this season. Also, he was essentially the main factor for the Knicks being close in any playoff games against the Atlanta Hawks.
However, it wasn’t just against the Hawks where fans got to see Rose’s value. After the trade occurred on Super Bowl Sunday, it was noticeable that New York’s offense moved at a faster pace and had more life to them once Derrick touched the court. I mean, he found Obi Toppin in transition to the hoop with ease while everyone else had a difficult time doing so (except Immanuel Quickley sometimes).
But regardless of finding Obi in transition, Rose’s 14.9 points, 4.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 48.7 field goal percentage, 41.1 three-point percentage (1.1 – 2.6 3PA) during 26.8 minutes per game was the spark the Knicks needed on a nightly basis. And Rose’s spark would explain why he had the highest Net Rating on the team with a 10.6 (Norvelle Pelle technically has the highest Net Rating, but it’s hard to take that reading seriously since he played so few games and minutes).
And even though Rose isn’t a lockdown defender, his defense was sufficient enough in his limited minutes to help the Knicks maintain a top-four defense.
I’d expect Rose to be back because he is one of Tom Thibodeau’s guys, and Thibodeau likes having his veterans around to help instill the culture of accountability and competitiveness (which was more than apparent this season). And we did hear Rose hopes to be back for next season.
However, in the same breath, Rose noted that the Knicks have big plans this season, so his future with the franchise is up in the air.
Verdict: Keep
Taj Gibson
Taj Gibson deserves to be waxed poetic. He brought a sorely needed veteran presence that stabilized the franchise and instilled the culture that Thibodeau wanted. On top of that, Taj turned back the clocks this season, making his nightly performances more than admirable.
Taj averaged 5.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 62.7 field goal percentage (2.2 – 3.5 FGA) within 20.8 minutes per game. I know it’s nothing eye-popping, but if you watched the way Taj played this season, you’d understand he was instrumental for the team’s success.
As Taj has done for most of his career, he’s been a rock for the teams he’s been part of because he plays basketball the right way. Taj is known to set hard screens, box out, and grab tough rebounds. He also directs traffic on defense, constantly hustles, and continuously moves the ball. And last but certainly not least, he’s an effective communicator and just an overall leader on the court (I could go on and on about Taj, but we’d be here all day).
It almost feels like there is a guarantee that Taj will be back because he’s been on every team that Thibodeau has coached. Obviously, anything could change. But I’m sure that Thibodeau would love to have Gibson back in the locker room and provide the sage wisdom to Mitchell Robinson and whoever else plays center on how to be a big in this league.
Also, it feels like Taj is that guy to take the vet minimum to be a “break glass in case of an emergency” backup power forward or center, just so that he can stay in his hometown and retire as a Knick.
Verdict: Keep
Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel became a defensive anchor after Mitchell Robinson went down with two different injuries this season (a fractured wrist and then fractured foot, which sidelined him for the rest of the season). And because of Noel, he was one of the main reasons New York ranked fourth in defense throughout the league.
As we’ve witnessed, Noel is a true rim protector. Nerlens’ fearlessness in sacrificing his body to protect the hoop is the reason why he averaged 2.2 blocks per game. Granted, blocked shots aren’t a good indication of a player’s defensive impact, but the eye test and the numbers testify how dynamic Noel was on defense – his defensive net rating during the regular season was 108.5.
Now even though Noel was solid on defense, he still had his shortcomings that hindered the team. He struggled to grab boards (especially on the offensive end), guard bigger centers, and defend the pick and roll and perimeter – this is where the Knicks missed Mitchell Robinson. No, Robinson didn’t handle bigger centers well either, but all the other areas I listed are where Mitch just excels over Nerlens.
As for Nerlens’ offensive game, he didn’t help the team that much because of his scoring limitations, which explains why he averaged 5.1 points per game. And at the same time, it seemed that Thibodeau had a low usage scheme for centers on offense because none were heavily involved.
It’d still be nice to have Noel back, especially for his defense. Yet, after his play this season, it’s hard to see him return. He demonstrated that he could be a starter in this league, and because of that, he’s probably looking to get a larger contract with multiple years. And unless the Knicks are willing to pay him starter money and have him on the bench (which doesn’t make sense since Robinson is on a cheap contract), then it is unlikely Noel will resign.
Verdict: Cut
Reggie Bullock
Reggie Bullock was instrumental for the Knicks’ success after the All-Star break. Before then, he averaged a 40.6 field goal percentage and 37.2 three-point percentage. And afterward, he shot a 47 field goal percentage and 43.2 three-point percentage.
Bullock was a true 3&D player that New York needed to create floor spacing and lock up the opposing team’s best offensive player. He wasn’t necessarily the greatest, but he gave 110 percent every night on both ends of the court, and it’s hard not to appreciate that type of effort.
It’s tough, though, to visualize the Knicks bringing both him and Burks back. They’d both be looking for longer and more lucrative contracts after their performances this season. And for New York to improve, they need to upgrade some of their role players.
However, if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on Bullock returning more so than Burks. And here are the reasons:
- Bullock was a starter
- Thibodeau wasted no time throwing Reggie back into the starting rotation after Bullock’s injury
- Thibodeau prioritizes defense first, and Reggie plays better defense than Burks
- Randle and Bullock have an excellent two-man game, and chemistry and continuity is important
Verdict: Keep
Alec Burks
Alec Burks was the X-Factor for this team. He was a pleasant surprise this season because of his ability to have some Lou Williams/Jamal Crawford type of presence.
I’m not saying that Burks is like the two notable sixth men that I just named. Yet Burks’ role on this team was similar to their roles, which is being an isolation player. Meaning, he can create his own shot without the help of teammates, or when the shot clock is winding down, just get him the ball, and he will probably make something happen.
However, unlike Williams or Crawford, those guys are highly efficient isolation scores. Burks… not so much. It was apparent as the season progressed that he was a true microwave scorer. Once he’s hot, it’s impossible to stop him. However, when he’s cold, he makes Antarctica seem like the Sahara Desert.
And that may not be apparent because his season stats are good. He averaged 12.7 points, 42 field goal percentage, 41.5 three-point percentage (2.1 – 5 3PA), and 85.6 free throw percentage. But if you watched him this season, you know he wasn’t consistent on a night-to-night basis.
Now someone will probably tell me: but Alex, Burks ranked in the 99th percentile in isolation scoring. How is he not efficient?
My response: this is where the numbers get tricky to understand, and you shouldn’t take them as gospel. For instance, during the 2017-18 season when Lou Williams was with the LA Clippers, he averaged 22.6 points, 43.5 field goal percentage, 35.9 three-point percentage (2.4 – 6.6 3PA), and 88 free throw percentage. And during that season, he ranked in the 66th percentile in isolation scoring.
What should also be noted is that Williams was able to maintain those averages over a longer stretch of time. Burks had those numbers after playing 49/72 games. Williams had those averages after playing 79/82 games.
With that being said, there is no certainty that Burks will be back.
Regardless of his inconsistencies, having someone that can create their own shot is always helpful to a team. And there were nights that Burks helped the Knicks win games. I mean, he even helped them win the second game in the series against the Atlanta Hawks.
On the other hand, he has been a journeyman for most of his career, so he is probably looking for a long-term contract at this point. And it’s unclear if New York wants to give him a long-term deal.
Also, as I noted earlier, I don’t see both Bullock and Burks returning, and I think Bullock has a leg up based on my analysis for him.
Verdict: Cut
Frank Ntilikina
Frank Ntilikina (aka “The French Price”) has somehow magically made it to the end of his rookie contract with the Knicks. That’s pretty amazing, considering how many trade rumors he’s been in.
Ntilikina’s overall tenure with the Knicks has been a mixed bag. Some partially his own doing, while the other was the organization failing to have a stable environment to develop him. Going through four head coaches in four years isn’t a recipe for success. And none of those coaches giving Frank enough room for failure didn’t help either.
However, Frank wasn’t consistent or aggressive enough to earn the playing time on his end.
We saw Frank have his best season his third year under interim head coach Mike Miller (with some good moments under Thibodeau).
Ntilikina has a nice-looking jumper, and he has the defense to be successful in this league. He just needs a real opportunity to demonstrate his attributes.
Frank will probably find another team to play with because he probably wants to sign with a team that will utilize him to demonstrate what he can do. Unless Thibodeau sees something in Ntilikina and needs another season for an evaluation.
Verdict: Cut
Elfrid Payton
Elfrid. Payton. Everyone’s favorite player (yes, sarcasm). Both fair and unfair, Payton got the brunt of Knicks fans’ heat.
The fair portion is that he would make boneheaded plays, stagnated the offense sometimes, didn’t facilitate as we saw him do during the 2019-20 season and years prior, and didn’t help space the floor for the first unit.
The unfair portion is that he was a player who received many backlashes while being in a system that didn’t help him thrive on his best attributes.
Elfrid’s strong suits are his ability to facilitate and organize the offense and attack the lane. And there some games where he was able to do just that. Unfortunately, he couldn’t utilize his strengths on a nightly basis.
Since Randle was the engine of this team and effectively ran point forward this season, Payton didn’t have the opportunity to facilitate or organize the offense. That would explain why Randle had a 27 assist percentage (ranked in the 97th percentile as a big), while Payton had a 20.8 assist percentage (ranked in the 16th percentile as a point guard).
And because Randle, Barrett, Robinson, and Noel love to score within 15 feet or less from the basket, they crowded the paint. So Elfrid couldn’t attack the lane effectively as he has in the past.
It’s unlikely Payton will return because of how everything played out in New York.
He looked defeated when I saw him play at TD Garden in Boston. And then, seeing him disengaged during the playoffs, it seemed like a sign that he didn’t feel part of the team or that he wanted to stay on the Knicks.
So Payton will most likely not be back and (unless Payton does a 180 like Randle).
Verdict: Cut
Jared Harper
We didn’t see much of Jared Harper unless it was for garbage time minutes. And that was understandable. He is still developing his game in the G League, which is why he was on a two-way contract this season. However, he got promoted from a two-way contract to the main roster (he received two 10-day contracts) before starting the playoffs — Jared got a raise/promotion because the Knicks were under the salary cap and needed to meet the threshold.
The Knicks could bring Harper back on another two-way contract because he still has under four years of NBA service. But there are a lot of unknowns to get a sense if the Knicks want to retain him.
Currently, there are no reports on if the Knicks believe he can be a helpful player or if they want to keep him on Westchester Knicks next season. Either way, it shouldn’t be a surprise if he’s brought back or must find a new home.
Verdict: Cut
Norvelle Pelle
Norvelle Pelle signed with the Knicks past the midseason mark because New York needed depth at the center position. When the Knicks signed Pelle, the Knicks had already lost Robinson due to a fractured foot at that point. But the thought of signing Pelle was to have insurance for Noel and Taj because both also missed a little bit of time during the season.
Pelle didn’t have a lot of playing time with New York because he was an emergency center. Also, Thibodeau isn’t very likely to implement someone joining the team after the midway point of the season, considering he’s never coached them before.
There is no clear-cut answer if the Knicks are going to retain Pelle. They probably won’t because the Knicks would want the money and roster space for someone one. Even though Pelle did sign a two-year contract with the Knicks, the second year of his agreement is non-guaranteed, so that the Knicks have the flexibility to cut him this offseason.
Verdict: Cut
Theo Pinson
Finally! Theo Pinson. Probably the most important bench player in New York Knicks history. He was the glue guy for this team. He was cheering and coaching his teammates while on the sideline and uplifting his teammates in the locker room and from afar. People may poo-poo the value of a player like Pinson (and I did in the past), but good teams have someone that can generate positive vibes (i.e. Jared Dudley, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and DeAndre Jordan).
Don’t be surprised if Pinson is here for another season.
Verdict: Keep
Conclusion
So if I had to guess the free agents on the Knicks roster that would return, it would be Rose, Gibson, Bullock, and Pinson. So that means the roster for next season, excluding any trades, would be:
- Julius Randle
- RJ Barrett
- Mitchell Robinson
- Immanuel Quickley
- Obi Toppin
- Kevin Knox
- Derrick Rose
- Taj Gibson
- Reggie Bullock
- Theo Pinson
Leave a comment below or wherever you’re reading this, and let us know if you agree or don’t. And if you don’t, then let us know who you think will be back!
