Knicks news: Immanuel Quickley starting is possible, per Tom Thibodeau

When asked about the possibility of Immanuel Quickley getting a starting spot, Tom Thibodeau said the Knicks are "always evaluating lineups.

The New York Knicks lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-103, on Friday night for their fifth straight defeat.

Tom Thibodeau's squad started off the year 2021 with three straight victories, but they have not been able to find their footing since. Is a lineup change in order in New York?

When asked about a potential lineup change and the possibility of Immanuel Quickley getting a starting spot, Thibodeau said the team is “always evaluating lineups and assessing things and some lineup decisions are a function of how the group fits,” per Ian Begley of SNY TV.

Tom Thibodeau was asked how much consideration he gives to elevating Immanuel Quickley to the starting five. He says NYK is always evaluating lineups & assessing things & some lineup decisions are a function of how group fits. Basically said everything is under consideration.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 16, 2021

The Knicks' guard spot has been a question mark early on, as the organization drafted Quickley with the 25th overall pick out of Kentucky.

While Quickley got off to a slow start to start the season, he has been on a tear the past two games. The 21-year-old ex-Wildcat dropped 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and topped it off with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting against the Cavaliers on Friday night.

Elfrid Payton has been the starting point guard for the Knicks, but he has been severely underwhelming. While Payton is averaging 13.9 points per game in the season, he is posting career-low assists with just 4.5 a game.

With the Knicks full of young guys and the organization evidently high on Quickley, it might be in everybody's best interest to give him the keys to the starting lineup. With RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Obi Toppin, the ‘Bockers are in a great position for the future.

Thibodeau has always been known to play his starters big minutes, and with this group of young guys, he certainly can. The time to see what the Knicks have for the future is now, so inserting Quickley into the starting lineup might happen sooner rather than later.