New York Knicks
2015-16 Record: 32-50, 3rd in Atlantic,13th place in the East
After a disappointing year, the Knicks offseason was one of the most interesting in the NBA. They cleaned house, dumping most of their role players while hanging onto Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. Unpredictably, they picked up former MVP Derrick Rose, former first-teamer Joakim Noah and former point guard prodigy Brandon Jennings. Usually that many formers on one team isn’t a good thing.
But Jennings and Rose are still youngish, and the potential for career revitalizations is there. The grittiness of Noah seems to fit well with a finesse style of Porzingis, who provides range and elite rim protection ability. And Anthony proved he has plenty in the tank after a strong performance at the Olympics.
Who would have thought that after the Chicago Bulls struck out on Anthony now three summers ago in free agency, he would have paired with Rose in Noah at one point. And in the Big Apple nonetheless. But like in Chicago, the likelihood of the Knicks success is mostly based on the health of Rose’s knee and Noah’s shoulder. If those two find the fountain of youth, the Knicks could be the second best team in the East.
If not, they could be back in the lottery.
So many storylines; how will Anthony, Noah and Rose gel? Can the latter of the two find redemption in a city known for tearing its athletes apart? Will be Porzingis actually become the team leader rather than the veterans? So much to watch for from one of the NBA’s most interesting teams.