New York Knicks Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Prior to free agency’s 6 p.m. start on Aug. 2, nobody was sure who the New York Knicks would sign or re-sign.
A number of key rotation players were set to hit the open market — all of whom looking to sign a more lucrative deal than their last. But re-signing all of them seemed unlikely as the organization needed to add outside pieces to improve the roster, positioning the team for a deeper playoff run. Of course, there was a possibility the Knicks would be participants in the trade market.
The New York Knicks not only retained core pieces but also added talent in order to push the team further into the playoffs.
But the Knicks cleared up any confusion or rumors — aside from those circulating trades. Leon Rose and co. in the front office re-signed Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose to three-year deals and brought Taj Gibson back on a one-year contract. They allowed Reggie Bullock to walk as he signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
Still, the Knicks had cap space to utilize in order to improve the team. Such cap room was used to sign 28-year-old Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker after the OKC Thunder bought the four-time All-Star out.
Fournier agreed to a four-year, $78 million contract that includes a team option on the final year, and Walker’s deal is expected to be around $8 million annually, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Barring a DeAndre Jordan-esque situation, the Knicks will likely watch the remaining days of free agency from the sideline. Of course, New York could make a deal via a trade, but that’s not promised.
Nevertheless, the Knicks’ starting lineup is beginning to take shape as the team prepares for another successful season under head coach Tom Thibodeau. Here are some of the players locked in as starters, some on the fringe of becoming a starter and some that could potentially break into the starting five.
re-signing all of them seemed unlikely as the organization needed to add outside pieces to improve the roster, positioning the team for a deeper playoff run. Of course, there was a possibility the Knicks would be participants in the trade market.</p>
<h2>The New York Knicks not only retained core pieces but also added talent in order to push the team further into the playoffs.</h2>
<p>But the Knicks cleared up any confusion or rumors — aside from those circulating trades. Leon Rose and co. in the front office re-signed Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose to three-year deals and brought Taj Gibson back on a one-year contract. They allowed Reggie Bullock to walk as he signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.</p>
<p>Still, the Knicks had cap space to utilize in order to improve the team. Such cap room was used to sign 28-year-old Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker after the OKC Thunder bought the four-time All-Star out.</p>
<p>Fournier agreed to a four-year, $78 million contract that includes a team option on the final year, and Walker’s deal is expected to be around $8 million annually, according to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1422924906396897284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report</a>.</p>
<p>Barring a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2015/07/08/deandre-jordan-los-angeles-clippers-dallas-mavericks/29881963/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DeAndre Jordan-esque situation</a>, the Knicks will likely watch the remaining days of free agency from the sideline. Of course, New York could make a deal via a trade, but that’s not promised.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the Knicks’ starting lineup is beginning to take shape as the team prepares for another successful season under head coach Tom Thibodeau. Here are some of the players locked in as starters, some on the fringe of becoming a starter and some that could potentially break into the starting five.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Locks </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">New York Knicks Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Locks</h2>
<p>Given the recent free-agent acquisitions, the New York Knicks’ starting lineup will certainly look different for the 2021-22 NBA season. However, there are already multiple locks within the starting five despite the season being months away.</p>
<h3>Kemba Walker</h3>
<p>After failing to acquire an All-Star point guard for the past decade, Knicks struggled even more this past season with Elfrid Payton running the offense. But now, they’ll have Kemba Walker at the helm.</p>
<p>Walker, a four-time All-Star, most recently played for the Boston Celtics after spending eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. At his peak, he averaged 25.6 points per game in 2018-19, but last season, that number dipped to 19.3 points per game on .420/.360/.899 shooting splits. He’ll join Julius Randle, who is coming off a career year, as the All-Star caliber guard the Knicks so desperately needed. Walker likely won’t return to scoring 25 points per game, but his addition certainly improves the Knicks at a great discount.</p>
<h3>Evan Fournier</h3>
<p>Although not the biggest name on the market, the New York Knicks splurged on Evan Fournier to improve the team’s dreadful offense. The wing played for the Orlando Magic and Celtics last season, finishing the season averaging 17.1 points per game on 45.7 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from downtown. Fournier, who will be 29 at the end of October, provides the Knicks with a level of shot-making the team played without last season. With the departure of Reggie Bullock, Fournier will slide into the starting lineup alongside RJ Barrett. The two are interchangeable at the shooting guard and small forward position.</p>
<h3>RJ Barrett</h3>
<p>Heading into year three in the league, RJ Barrett is positioned to take yet another step in his development. After selecting him No. 3 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Knicks and their fans had high hopes for the shooting guard. And last season, he took a great step forward. He finished the year averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on 44.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3 all while being the second option on the 4-seeded Knicks. Now, with Walker and Fournier added to the mix — as well as retaining a majority of the core — defenders will have to divert attention elsewhere, giving Barrett better looks from the field. Like Fournier, he can swap between the shooting guard and small forward position, so expect those two to line up next to each other.</p>
<h3>Julius Randle</h3>
<p>Julius Randle was the Knicks’ consolation prize in the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sweepstakes in the 2019 offseason. And while many were upset, it was a great signing and nearly everyone has been <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2019/06/28/new-york-knicks-3-reasons-to-sign-julius-randle-2019-nba-free-agency/">proved wrong</a> about the forward. He finished his most impressive season — winning Most Improved Player, becoming a first-time All-Star and being named to the All-NBA Second Team. He led the Knicks in three statistical categories — 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Furthermore, he played 71 of 72 games and led the league in minutes played (Barrett was second) and minutes per game. The downside to last season was his playoff performance. After scoring at a .456/.411/.811 clip in the regular season, the veteran big shot just 29.8 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from distance. With the additions of Walker and Fournier, some pressure should be relieved, but Randle is still expected to be the No. 1 option.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Fringe options </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">New York Knicks Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Fringe</h2>
<p>For the most part, the New York Knicks’ starting five is set. However, the center position is up for grabs. And with Tom Thibodeau as the coach, don’t bet against him giving Derrick Rose a start if Kemba Walker disappoints.</p>
<h3>Derrick Rose</h3>
<p>Derrick Rose has had a great resurgence in the NBA after falling victim to multiple knee injuries throughout his career. Since being traded from the Chicago Bulls, he’s bounced around multiple teams, not landing in one spot for too long. But one of the few consistencies is Thibodeau, who has coached Rose on the Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves and now the Knicks. Although Rose serves best in a sixth man role — hence finishing third in the award voting — Thibodeau favored the veteran guard for the final three games in the playoffs. If Walker doesn’t impress Thibodeau enough, it wouldn’t be surprising if he inserted Rose into the starting lineup later in the season.</p>
<h3>Mitchell Robinson</h3>
<p>At the start of last season, Mitchell Robinson was the starting center and looked as if he’d be a key piece to the Knicks ’ future. But after suffering injuries that granted Nerlens Noel time in the starting role, Robinson’s future isn’t certain anymore. The Knicks picked up his team option for the upcoming season, so barring a trade he will be in uniform. However, the front office re-signed Noel to a three-year deal, committing to the 27-year-old shot blocker. It’s still arguable that Robinson is a better player, but with unrestricted free agency on the horizon in 2022, the Knicks may look to shop Robinson and keep just Noel for a cheaper price. If the Knicks do keep the 23-year-old, he’ll continue to be the bouncy, rim-running and shot-blocking center, it just may not be as the starter anymore.</p>
<h3>Nerlens Noel</h3>
<p>Nerlens Noel was once a top prospect coming out of high school and college. But after declining a four-year, $70 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks in summer 2017, Noel’s career declined. However, after Robinson went down with an injury last season, Noel flourished and proved he’s a starting-caliber center that can anchor a top defense. And because of it, he earned himself a three-year deal with New York. Noel does a lot of what Robinson does — just less athletic. But clearly the Knicks value his abilities and view him as a core piece for at least for the next three seasons. Whether Thibodeau opts to insert the 27-year-old back into the starting five is to be determined. Robinson has the youth, advantage in athletic ability and arguably his skill set, but Noel was third in the league in blocks per game with 2.2 and anchored the defense for a majority of the season and into the playoffs.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Potential break-ins </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">New York Knicks Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Potential Break-Ins</h2>
<p>With the New York Knicks likely having four starting positions on lock, it leaves just the center position open, and that role will be filled by either Mitchell Robinson or Nerlens Noel. So, there’s not much wiggle room for young players to edge their way into the starting five. Nevertheless, if there’s one player that can do it, it’s Immanuel Quickley.</p>
<h3>Immanuel Quickley</h3>
<p>It’s not often a late first-round pick flourishes immediately upon entering the NBA, especially when a player is drafted <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2020/10/17/kentucky-guard-immanuel-quickley-has-met-twice-with-3-nba-teams-poised-to-surprise-in-nba-draft/?sh=767467813301%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">earlier than expected</a>. But Immanuel Quickley defied the odds.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-3 combo guard played college ball at Kentucky under John Calipari and won the 2019-20 SEC Player of the Year after averaging 16.1 points per game on 42.8 percent from 3. This degree of play translated to the professional level.</p>
<p>Quickley earned minutes in the first game of the season against the Indiana Pacers and became a regular rotation member for 64 games. He came off the bench in a scoring role with the ability to stretch the floor, often pulling from deep. And he did so with confidence.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Immanuel Quickley 3 from deep ✅<br>Mike Breen “BANG” ✅<br>Our future PG ✅ <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://t.co/lgwaAb1hYa">pic.twitter.com/lgwaAb1hYa
<p>— EverythingKnicks (@EverythinKnicks) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://twitter.com/EverythinKnicks/status/1355970141826265090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 31, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Quickley shot well from distance during the season at 38.9 percent rate while taking 4.7 per contest. While his field-goal percentage needs some work (39.5 percent), he’s been efficient at the charity stripe, shooting 89.1 percent.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Immanuel Quickley shot 39% from 3-point range and 89% from the FT line in 2020-21.</p>
<p>Per <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://twitter.com/bball_ref?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@bball_ref,
The only other rookie in NBA history to attempt more than 300 three-pointers and match or exceed those percentages was:</p>
<p>Steph Curry in 2009-2010<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://t.co/CATAtGgS9R">https://t.co/CATAtGgS9R
<p>— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1404797207094640653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 15, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Even with Quickley’s strong rookie season, it’ll be difficult for him to bargain for a spot in the starting lineup. Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose hold the point guard position down, while Evan Fournier or RJ Barrett and Alec Burks are likely to be the shooting guards for the season. This, however, doesn’t take Quickley’s development into account.</p>
<p>If Quickley performs at an exceptional level off the bench and Walker or Fournier disappoints, Tom Thibodeau may be forced to make the call to bring Quickley into the starting five.</p>
<p>Sure, anyone on the Knicks can technically have a breakout season and barge into the starting lineup, but Quickley seems the most realistic of the remaining players — even if “realistic” is still far-fetched.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Trades: 3 takeaways from Westbrook trade" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/30/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-lakers/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/05/new-york-knicks-starting-lineup-locks-2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/30/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-lakers/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Trades: 3 takeaways from Westbrook trade </a> </div>
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