Sir Charles in Charge
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New York Knicks: 5 questions at the season’s quarter mark

By Jonathan Macri

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3,Frank Ntilikina #11 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks react in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City.The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3,Frank Ntilikina #11 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks react in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City.The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks celebrate with teammate Justin Holiday #8 in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks celebrate with teammate Justin Holiday #8 in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

1. Is Willy still part of the core?

From the moment Scott Perry took over, the new Knicks brass had a clear PR message they were sending to anyone willing to listen: this was going to be a youth movement. Four names always got mentioned: Kristaps, Frank, Tim, and Willy.

Perhaps the first 20 games served as a lesson for Mills, Perry, & Co.: before you start touting someone as a core foundational piece, make sure he can, you know…play.

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Yes, I know, Willy was a revelation last year…a swashbuckling Spaniard cut from the same cloth as the Gasol brothers who mentored him, swishing and dishing his way to All-Rookie First Team honors on a bargain basement contract that lasts until 2020.

Remember, though: this was a kid who wasn’t getting regular game action until almost midway through the season, and only started 22 games. It’s one thing to look good for a team out of the playoff picture in March and early April; it’s quite another to be an impactful, two-way rotation player on a team with playoff aspirations, especially one with suspect perimeter defenders that get killed on picks and funner drivers in your direction.

Hernangomez has looked rusty – and who wouldn’t in the sparse playing time he’s been given – but the brilliant offensive game we all saw last season is still in there somewhere. Given 30 minutes a night, he’d be fine.

The issue is the other end, where Willy’s defense has made Enes Kanter look like a young Joakim Noah.

(As an aside, if a Knicks fan invented a time machine, but could only take it for one round trip, what would be the best use? Go back and replace Noah with the 24-year old version of himself? Try and prevent the Ewing trade that set the franchise back a decade? Convince a mid-career Bruce Springsteen to round out the E-Street band with the spoiled rich kid who plays a mean harmonica? The sky is really the limit here…)

The NBA is all about exploiting the other team’s weakest link, and few are as fragile and Willy. If he can’t graduate from “abhorrent” to “passably bad” on defense, the Knicks may regret not including him in a deal this summer when his value was at an apex.

Every fan should be looking for signs that he can reach that low bar. If he does, the Knicks may feel better about his chances of being part of the long-term core…or they’ll start fielding calls while the iron is hot.

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