With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: New York Knicks
Conference: Eastern
Wins O/U: 26.5 (Over -125, Under +105)
Last Year’s Record: 19-63
Warning: I am a Knicks fan. This preview may be longer than other ones, and also quite depressing. With that being said, sell the team, James Dolan.
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): R. Barrett*, I. Brazdeikis, R. Bullock, D. Dotson, W. Ellington, T. Gibson, K. Knox*, M. Morris, F. Ntikilina, E. Payton, B. Portis, J. Randle*, M. Robinson*, D. Smith Jr.*, A. Trier
Key Offseason Moves: Drafted R. Barrett and I. Brazdeikis, Signed J. Randle, Signed B. Portis, Signed M. Morris, Lost N. Vonleh, Lost M. Hezonja, Lost E. Mudiay, Signed E. Payton, Signed R. Bullock
Overall Summary: I love the Knicks, and apparently, I also love being sad. As the Knicks struggled to the worst record in the league, the hope was that they would win the lottery, and pick Zion Williamson. Even if the lottery balls weren’t quite that kind, the Knicks would get the second pick and their point guard of the future in Ja Morant. Once one of those two things happened, Kevin Durant would come to MSG, and who knows who possibly would come with him. Of course, this is earth, James Dolan still owns the Knicks, and none of this happened. Instead, the Knicks got the third pick, and Durant (along with his buddy Kyrie Irving) went across the river to Brooklyn. The Knicks came back from this – well, at best, with mixed success. I like R.J. Barrett more than most, as I think his upside was muted by playing with Zion Williamson at Duke. I think he can turn into a better passing DeMar DeRozan – an all-star level player. I also like 2nd round pick Ignas Brazdeikis – he was an effective scorer at Michigan and a freshman and has the potential to fill up the box score from off the bench. Free agency was a lot worse – as the Knicks signed 4 power forwards, only one of whom can shoot – terrible for the modern NBA. I am not a fan of youngsters Kevin Knox or Dennis Smith Jr. as both are poor on defense and inefficient on offense. The one player other than Barrett that I am excited to watch this year is Mitchell Robinson – his per-game block numbers last year were historic and his athleticism defies belief. Mostly, though, I will be sad, as the Knicks suck again.
Verdict: Take the under (how is it possible that’s plus money???). The Knicks are bad, and while I like a Barrett-Robinson core, they aren’t ready to win many games this season. Furthermore, I will give a personal-related bet – that the Georgetown Hoyas (where I’m about to start law classes), led by former Knicks star Patrick Ewing, will win more games this year (tournaments included) than the woeful Knicks. I project a 23-59 record.
