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After the Knicks confronted mounting accidents that ultimately ended their 2023-24 season, they revamped their bench depth this summer season in hopes of avoiding an analogous destiny ought to they get equally unfortunate. They drafted 4 prospects and signed guys who performed constant bench minutes final season in hopes of withstanding no matter damage bug might hit them in pursuit of the franchise’s first championship in additional than 50 years.
They proved final season that they may struggle their approach by the common season with out two of their three greatest gamers, marching to the second seed largely with out Julius Randle and OG Anunoby. However by the playoffs, they ran out of choices — are they ready to keep away from that situation this time round?
Past their anticipated core nine-man rotation, the Knicks have: Jericho Sims, Ariel Hukporti, Jacob Toppin, Keita Bates-Diop, Chuma Okeke, Pacome Dadiet, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek and Cameron Payne. They’ve some choices at every place, however how dependable will they be?
Toppin, McCullar Jr. and Hukporti are on two-way offers, and are more likely to spend most of their taking part in time in Westchester. It will be attention-grabbing to see Toppin get minutes, however he doesn’t seem like excessive within the pecking order — and It’s uncommon for somebody in his place to right away make a optimistic influence on a aggressive staff.
Dadiet and Kolek have the possibility to be exceptions. Dadiet’s was New York’s lone first-round choose this draft, however at simply 19 years outdated coming off a rocky Summer time League, it’s potential he additionally finally ends up getting reps within the G League.
Kolek regarded way more NBA-ready, and is competing at a weaker place for the Knicks, with solely Payne competing for the fourth guard slot. Kolek regarded sharp with a historic assist-to-turnover ratio at Summer time League, and seems to have an easily-translatable jumper and position.
Nonetheless, it’s troublesome to challenge NBA efficiency off school and Vegas reps, and there’s an argument for trying in direction of the veteran choice. Payne performed 17.9 minutes a recreation in 78 appearances (together with 10 begins) final season, averaging 9.3 factors on 38.2% three-point taking pictures down the stretch for Philly.
So far as emergency guards go, a nine-year vet who’s been constant from three and performed in 58 postseason video games — together with a 2021 NBA Finals sequence, and impactful minutes in opposition to New York final yr — isn’t a foul choice. Neither Payne nor Kolek would be capable of slide up a place, but when the Knicks are quick a ball-handler, they are going to at the very least have their creation on the prepared.
The wing is arguably New York’s strongest place between Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVinzenco and Josh Hart. Nonetheless, its solely actual reserve choice past the rookies is Okeke — 2019’s No. 16 total choose — who didn’t lived as much as his choice with the Magic.
Okeke is a robust wing who by no means added sufficient three to his three-and-D promise, as his deep taking pictures clip dropped each season to a lowly 28% from three. He ought to be capable of maximize the remainder of his recreation underneath Tom Thibodeau, however he’s no surefire choice if someone goes down.
It’s potential he may fill in on the 4 as effectively. An alternative choice there may be Bates-Diop, an athletic 6-foot-8 massive who’s performed for 5 groups in six seasons and joined the Knicks by way of the Bridges commerce.
Regardless of shedding Isaiah Hartenstein, the Knicks nonetheless have a worth third-string middle in Sims, or Precious Achiuwa ought to the previous make a large leap. Each have stepped up within the face of accidents earlier than, to loads of successes, and the Knicks have some inventive choices to play on the 5 ought to push come to shove.
SNY’s Ian Begley nonetheless believes the Knicks aren’t totally assured on the place and will look to signal a veteran 5 like Bruno Fernando, Omer Yurtseven, JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo. In the event that they achieve this, the middle and level guard spots are in respectable sufficient form to face up to a ding or two.
Nonetheless, the center of the ground is a bit of suspect — and it doesn’t take many absences to begin trying in direction of rookies and choices within the G League. The Knicks must minimize guys to make room for extra signings, or may look to beef up the rotation on the commerce deadline after watching the primary half of the season play out.
That’s the likeliest end result, given their expectations and damage historical past. The postseason takes a cruel bodily toll, particularly on a bruising staff just like the Knicks, and accidents will occur.
New York regarded ready for that final season, till it misplaced 5 gamers in two sequence. That will have been particularly unfortunate, however the lesson could also be which you can by no means have too many dependable choices.
