Most, if not all, NBA fans think the New York Knicks had a really disappointing offseason. Not only did they fail to land the first overall pick after tanking in 2018-19, but they were also unable to land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving who were supposed to be a ‘lock' to sign with them in free agency.
However, for former NBA player and current ESPN sports analyst Jalen Rose, the Knicks didn't really ‘strike out' in free agency. In fact, he told Marc Berman of the New York Post that New York did a good job adding players who are hungry to prove themselves and win.
“People have had strong opinions. They feel if you don’t get a first-team All-NBA player, you struck out. I don’t see it that way because only five of those guys exist. If you can’t attract top-tier free agents, you accumulate players until you’re able to get one. They got Kevin Knox and RJ Barrett in the (last two) drafts. You hope one of those two will become a star for you. That’s the goal,” Rose explained.
“If you don’t get one of the five All-NBA players, you fill out the roster with guys who are hungry and motivated and try to get two at every position.’’
Rose may have a point here though. First of all, they were able to land RJ Barrett with the third overall pick. The Duke product was once touted as the best collegiate prospect in the country before Zion Williamson took the nation by storm with his insane athleticism.
The Knicks also added Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris and Taj Gibson, four players who are definitely willing to bang bodies inside the paint. These guys, along with Mitchell Robinson, could cause problems especially if head coach David Fizdale utilizes them properly.
Then there are the 3-point shooters RJ Bullock and Wayne Ellington, who should make it easier for other players on the team to operate inside.
Lastly, the Knicks have a promising young core of Barrett, Robinson, Dennis Smith Jr., Kevin Knox and Alonzo Trier, all of whom can develop into stars in the league.
Sure enough, the Knicks failed in their bid to build a superteam. However, they have assembled a roster filled with hard workers, which is not bad at all for what some call a “disastrous” summer.
Follow Us
Subscribe