The New York Knicks have already frustrated center Enes Kanter by playing young Luke Kornet over him, but also other veterans like Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas, who have been told the organization will prioritize “development” over everything else, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News.
The Knicks are not planning to make a playoff push or awaiting the return of Kristaps Porzingis by a certain date, but rather playing this entire season by ear and making the most of the playing time available to give their young players minutes.
This, unfortunately, has resulted in a game of musical chairs orchestrated by head coach David Fizdale, who has plugged players in and out of the lineup throughout the season, causing not only frustration, but a clear lack of consistency for New York.
Much like in a pay-to-play local recreation league, Fizdale has experimented with Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Ntilikina and Trey Burke at point guard, giving each of them starts and then puzzlingly yanking them out the minute their start to struggle.
Kanter recently laid a goose egg after going 0-for-6 in 17 minutes off the bench, clearly out of his element after starting 23 games this season and all 71 games in 2017-18.
Kornet has proved to be an efficient outside shooter and a pivot-like playmaker at center, but rebounding and shot-blocking have been rather an afterthought for the undrafted 7-foot-1 center.
Veterans like Lee and Thomas, who have put a large part of the last few seasons into mentoring young players, could possibly feel alienated by this decision to cut their minutes short, given the sacrifices they've made.
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