Former NBA coach and current TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy thinks the New York Knicks are actually headed in the “right direction.”
After missing out on stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency this summer, the Knicks used their cap space on seven veterans, whom the franchise believes will teach the youngsters what it takes to be a professional and tough-minded team.
Those veterans were Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris, Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton.
Van Gundy doesn't think the Knicks are a playoff team yet, but he wants to give general manager Scott Perry and president Steve Mills some credit after everyone ripped the two over the summer.
“I don’t think they are a playoff team,’’ Van Gundy said, via Marc Berman of The New York Post. “But I will say this: I thought their front office, Scott Perry and Steve Mills, did a good job. They got raked over the coals. Everyone expected them to get one of the major free agents and they didn’t. They went to Plan B and did a good job and got more competitive.
“They got a better team and retain their flexibility. One of the things we saw this summer was important to free agents, it wasn’t just the money and place, but how is the organization doing? They can chase free agents next summer, but also left themselves flexibility for the [new] guys who play well — they have options and can re-sign them. I think they are headed in the right direction — a better direction than they were before. But it’s going to be a long process.”
The Knicks had the worst record in the NBA last season. They have been a walking disaster for years under the leadership of owner James Dolan.
It's going to be interesting to see how many games the Knicks will win in 2019-20 with their revamped roster. They should win more than 17 games, which was their win total from last season.
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