Tackling Knicks Questions Ahead of Camp

In one of the fastest years on record, we find that Knicks training camp is only a month away. I swear I just put the snow shovels in storage. Why is my wife already talking about school shopping? And when did my beard go totally white?

This week, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic laid out the Knicks’ biggest unknowns. First among them: playing time for the youngsters.

Cat Stevens once asked, “Where do the children play?” The answer: probably not Madison Square Garden. Sophomores Tyler Kolek, Pacôme

Dadiet, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Ariel Hukporti all want floor time, but only the Incredible Huk is likely to carve out meaningful minutes on such a veteran-heavy roster. Plus, the Knicks still have a slot to sign a quality bench player on a vet-minimum deal. It seems these year-two players will remain pine-fresh for a second straight campaign, barring two unlesses: injuries, or a front office mandate for Mike Brown to develop the kids.

Here’s a possible positional tier. Don’t hold me to it:

Then, in his piece, Edwards also raises the annual question of Mitchell Robinson’s future. The oft-injured Blockness Monster is extension-eligible, and his trade value could be tested if he stays healthy through the deadline. Same story, different year: if Mitch plays, you keep him; if he’s hurt, you move on—but what team is trading a valuable package for an injured center? For now, the big Cajun is healthy. Maybe this is the year he earns some serious Defensive Player of the Year consideration.

Edwards closes with another question: Can Mike Brown get the team to play faster? The Knicks ranked near the bottom in pace last season under Tom Thibodeau. Says Edwards:

“I do believe personnel factors heavily into how fast a team can or cannot play. Some players just have different gears, different methods. I do believe, though, that the Knicks, despite not having the players to be top-five in pace, can improve significantly simply through an improved half-court offense.”

With the exception of Clarkson and Yabu, this is a run-back of last year’s lineup. We saw how fast they played. Even if Brown puts itching powder in their shorts and swaps their Gatorade for Red Bull, it’s hard to imagine Mike getting that much more speed out of this assortment of legs. But this might be one of my pessimistic days.

Read the full piece here.

As for who the Knicks might land with that veteran’s minimum . . . Edwards has thoughts on that, too, in a piece published yesterday. Maybe we should call this the Aggregated Edwards Edition.

According to the intrepid reporter, New York’s top target is Malik Beasley (the sharpshooter recently cleared in a federal gambling probe), though he may draw larger offers elsewhere. Other possibilities include familiar faces Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, plus steady vets like Monté Morris, Seth Curry, Alec Burks, and Malcolm Brogdon. Each would bring shooting or playmaking insurance, though minutes might be scarce on an already wing-heavy roster. Ben Simmons remains a long shot. And can you really see yourself cheering for Ben Simmons in a Knicks jersey? Me, neither.

Read the piece about the vets here.

Go Knicks.