New York Knicks

Roster (15)

Julius Randle PF
Marcus Morris PF
Bobby Portis PF
Taj Gibson PF
Elfrid Payton PG
RJ Barrett SF
Wayne Ellington SG
Frank Ntilikina PG
Dennis Smith Jr PG
Kevin Knox F
Reggie Bullock SG
Allonzo Trier SG
Damyean Dotson SG
Mitchell Robinson C
Ignas Brazdeikis SF

Two Way

None

Starting 5

Elfrid Payton PG
Reggie Bullock SG
RJ Barrett SF
Bobby Portis PF
Julius Randle C

Players Lost (9)

DeAndre Jordan C (FA, Nets)
Lance Thomas SF (FA)
Mario Hezonja SG (FA, POR)
Emmanuel Mudiay PG (FA, Utah)
Luke Kornet PF (FA, CHI)
Noah Vonleh PF (FA, MIN)
Henry Ellenson PF (FA, NETS)
John Jenkins SG (FA)
Billy Garrett SG (FA)

Players Added (9)

Elfrid Payton PG (FA, NOP)
Julius Randle PF (FA, NOP)
Marcus Morris PF (FA, BOS)
Bobby Portis PF (FA, WAS)
Tj Gibson PF (FA, MIN)
RJ Barrett SF (3rd Pick, 2019 NBA Draft)
Wayne Ellington SG (FA, DET)
Reggie Bullock SG (LAL)
Ignas Brazdeikis SF (47th pick, 2019 NBA Draft, trade SAC)

2018-19 Final Regular Season Standing: 15th Eastern Conference (17-65)

2019-20 Projected Regular Season Standing: 11th Eastern Conference (35-57)

The New York Knicks failed to win the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving Sweepstakes, with both going to the Knicks neighbor the Brooklyn Nets…ouch! So, what did they do, blow their wad on four power forwards. Makes sense, right? Randle was already said to be headed to New York, so his signing wasn’t a surprise. Then came Portis, and Gibson, and Morris who spurned the Spurs. This spate of moves, left many who were watching free agency unfold to scratch their heads. But, if you look at the roster, it makes some sense. Last season, they didn’t have much of a front court, with Vonleh holding down the fort, Jordan coming in for the second half of the season, and Knox not living up to expectations. Now the Knicks have a solid front court…kind of…they don’t have a true center, but Randle will take care of things there. So, hey there is that.

Instead of waiting for him to heal, The Knicks opted to trade star power forward Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline, after things went sour. It’s too bad because he would look real nice next to RJ Barrett, who the the Knicks took at #3 in the draft. As it is, Barrett will probably become a star player for the team in the near future.

The Knicks added role players Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock, and signed Elfrid Payton who will challenge Ntilikina for starting Point Guard. The Knicks also signed Brazdeikis whom they traded for from the Kings who drafted him with the 4th pick in the draft. He was the first player in the 2019 summer league to score 30 points.

The Knicks got better, but how better? They should still be two – three teams out of the playoffs, but who knows how well of a rookie season Barrett will have and if all those big men signings will pay off.