The New York Knicks aren't too jolly this holiday season. At 14-18, they're out of the playoff picture entirely and are in the midst of a truly disappointing season. A Christmas Day matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, a game that was worthy of being circled on the calendar when the schedule was released, has all the energy and excitement of a fruit cake.

Several of Atlanta's key players are out due to being in the NBA's health and safety protocols. The Knicks should be able to take the win on Christmas in front of their home crowd but with their uninspired performance this season, the undermanned Hawks could easily swoop in and steal a victory.

What was supposed to be an exciting season for the Knicks has turned into an existentially dreadful one, with the possibility of dealing away their veterans and starting over again looking them dead in the eye. New York doesn't exactly need a Christmas miracle to turn things around but they absolutely have needs to address.

Here are three things that the Knicks should put on their Christmas wish list.

3. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett getting their shooting mojo back

Last year, the Knicks ranked third in 3-point percentage as a team last year. Conversely, they only ranked 27th in 3-point attempts. This year the team is taking much more, ranking 11th in 3-point attempts, and shooting only three percentage points lower from last year, placing them eighth. Randle and Barrett contributed to the 3-point barrage last year. This year, though, they have been detrimental to the cause.

New York's most important players aren't 40 percent shooters from beyond the arc anymore. There wasn't any genuine convincing that they had turned into marksmen overnight, but there was hope that they would at least be average deep-range shooters now. So far, that hasn't been the case. Randle is shooting just 32.0 percent while Barrett is shooting 35.3 percent.

Derrick Rose, one of the team's more reliable shooters, will be sidelined for months due to an ankle injury that necessitated surgery. Evan Fournier, who the team signed in the hopes of being their key shooting threat, is cold way more often than he is hot. The need for Randle and Barrett to step up is greater than ever.

2. Some energetic defenders

The Knicks made their money last year on account of their stingy defense. That energy has dissipated, and they rank 23rd in the league in defensive rating. Their defense was an issue even before their roster was decimated.

The perimeter is perhaps the area that could best use some upgrades. In-house options do exist: their names are Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride. New York's rookies could provide some spark on the defensive end while still being able to contribute some shooting and scoring.

Trading for someone is also an option. Perhaps New York could look in the direction of Jarred Vanderbilt of the Timberwolves or Derrick White of the Spurs. Before the trade market really heats up, the Knicks should look to get a defensive upgrade. It may be tricky to find such players who can also contribute well offensively. But they need to find a way to stop bleeding points.

1. Versatility at the center position

Prior to the season, Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel, and Taj Gibson seemed like the ideal center rotation. But so far, the group has been paltry. Robinson seems to have lost a step while Noel and Gibson have not been very sturdy. New York needs a new option at the center position.

Myles Turner seems like the most obvious candidate. His shooting makes him a very intriguing addition to the offense, his shot-blocking skills make him a strong centerpiece for a defense and he is only 25 years of age, so he could be a mainstay in New York for a while.

Mo Bamba has the chance to grow into a similar type of player as Turner. The Magic already have a young center in Wendell Carter Jr., though he has started alongside Bamba. Orlando may be intrigued at the idea of moving Bamba and opening a starting spot for young forward Chuma Okeke, giving them a more flexible lineup.

Using a small-ball lineup with Randle and Obi Toppin has worked but may not be a long-term solution. Whether it's one of the aforementioned players or someone else, the Knicks could greatly benefit from a big man that can shoot and do more with the ball than just catch lobs.