Breaking: Knicks make a swift move to actualise an unplanned deal.
It appears like everyone believes the Knicks will use their draft money this offseason to sign a big name in an attempt to bolster Jalen Brunson. To make room for another player on the squad, Julius Randle and his contract would obviously have to be released. Nevertheless, the front office might take a completely different approach, holding onto draft assets and strengthening their depth.
Knicks’ off-season plan: striking a balance between depth and superstars
The Knicks aren’t totally persuaded they need to add a new contract and trade picks, according to Ian Begley of SNY; they’d prefer to strengthen their current roster. It seems that their matchup against the Indiana Pacers made some people aware of how shallow they really are.
Prospects for the Draft and Player Development
“I don’t think they’re really serious about moving their 2024 picks,” Zach Edey
The Knicks may combine a few of their choices to advance and add a more well-known player. Zach Edey or Dillon Jones, a small forward from Weber State, may be a first-round choice. Before averaging just four points a season last year, Jones is a fascinating prospect who scored 20.8 points while shooting 48.9% from the field.
In addition to his impressive increase in scoring, he also showed incredible play-making ability by averaging 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists a game. In the event that the Knicks decide not to extend Isaiah Hartenstein, Jones might be the ideal replacement on a cheap rookie deal. Even if they decide to hold onto the seasoned big man, they may attempt to trade Mitchell Robinson and his outstanding deal in order to acquire Jones. Jones would make an excellent backup to Hartenstein as he develops and gains experience transferring his collegiate skills to the NBA.
Naturally, the Knicks have a lot of other issues to deal with, such as the need for additional depth at guard given that Alec Burks is expected to go and that the possibility of injuries surfaced during the last series.
Let’s say the Knicks believe that Brunson, Randle, and OG Anunoby can help them win a championship in the end. If that’s the case, their best course of action should be to preserve their health and limit the playing time of some of their most important players so that they’ll be primed for action when the playoffs arrive the following season.
