New York Knicks: The 2018 NBA offseason summary and recap
Looking back at what the New York Knicks did right and wrong during the 2018 NBA offseason, including the draft and free agency
After remaining as constant bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference through the end of the Carmelo Anthony saga, the New York Knicks parted ways with head coach Jeff Hornacek after two seasons at the helm.
David Fizdale was brought on as his replacement and is expected to guide the franchise to greener pastures. He’s also being used as an attraction to big fish in next year’s free agency, when the Knicks will have a heap of cap space ready in the waiting.
Though the Knicks didn’t share my opinion on draft night, Kevin Knox looks just fine. The forward dominated the Summer League and showed no morale/character concerns, some of which made other teams, and myself, skeptical. If he can perform up to those standards during the regular season, Manhattan may just have themselves a Donovan Mitchell-type steal.
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Mitchell Robinson, a 20-year-old center who elected to forgo college after pulling out of Western Kentucky last summer, also has long-term potential. The Knicks took the flier on him as a second-round pick, a round typically full of gambles on potential rather than certain promise.
Other than bringing on Fizdale and drafting those two players, general manager Scott Perry didn’t do all that much else this offseason from a personnel standpoint.
The front office decided not to offer any multi-year deals in free agency, instead inking some role players to one-year pacts. Mario Hezonja, Luke Kornet, Kadeem Allen and Noah Vonleh will call New York home next year.
Allonzo Trier and Isaiah Hicks were given two-way contracts, meaning they’ll have a shot at making the pro roster but may also spend time in the G-League.
The Knicks appear to be building this team on length, as a starting five of Frank Ntilikina, Mario Hezonja, Kevin Knox, Kristaps Porzingis and Mitchell Robinson would have an average wingspan of over 7-feet. Hezonja’s wingspan is the one below seven feet, coming in at 6-foot-10.
For argument’s sake, Enes Kanter has a 7-foot-1 wingspan, however he’s likely not part of the long-term core and is playing on a one-year deal. Though Noah Vonleh and Luke Kornet are expected to fill in while The Unicorn recovers from a torn ACL, they both have wingspans north of seven feet as well.
Obviously, the Knicks will not be contending this season and probably not even next season. They just don’t have the firepower to make noise in the East, especially without Porzingis this year.
New York didn’t do anything wrong this offseason, making what appear to be solid moves in the draft and managing to avoid multi-year deals for short-term success.
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They absolutely have a core to build around, as Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox, Kristaps Porzingis and Mitchell Robinson are all intriguing pieces aged 22 and under.
On top of that, they will have more than enough money to make big moves next summer. With that core, they may already have what they need to contend in two or three years.