This might be one of the first times in a long time that as a New York Knicks fan, I can truly say that I am hopeful of our NBA future going forward.
Let’s start with the new head coach, Jeff Hornacek.
Previously the coach of the Phoenix Suns, and former player across 14 seasons, he put together a 101-112 record over a two and a half year span in the desert. Despite finishing with a 48-34 record in 2013-14, the Suns missed out on the playoffs due to the strength of the Western Conference.
If Hornacek can put together a similar mark in the East, however, the Knicks might make the playoffs for the first time since they fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Semifinals in 2013.
From here, we move onto the most notable off-season acquisition, Derrick Rose. Former MVP Rose comes to New York in a trade with the Chicago Bulls.
Rose has suffered through debilitating injuries the past few years, but when he’s healthy, he’s the All-Star, All NBA First-Team point guard who can put up 25 points a night. Last season, he started all 66 games he played in, the most appearances he’s made since his 2010-11 campaign that saw him win the MVP award. If he can work himself back up to over 20 points a night, the Knicks will be a surefire threat in the offensive game with Rose and Carmelo Anthony dropping buckets at will.
Speaking of Carmelo, he’s coming off his ninth All-Star selection, but his numbers dropped last season. His 21.8 points per game were his lowest since his first two seasons in Denver, but he did set a career high for assists, averaging over four a game.
The Knicks added some key pieces in signing Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings.
They improve the offence, but they can also give you a little defence too. Lee has shown he can be a double-digit scorer with good shooting, while Jennings is looking to revitalise his career on his fourth team in as many years.
One of the fastest players in the league, he’s been battling injuries, but if he recaptures the form he displayed in Milwaukee, he could very well win Sixth Man of the Year, as Phil Jackson has predicted.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas is a decorated player in his native Lithuania, picking up numerous accolades in his career. A four-time LKL All-Star, he was the MVP of that game in 2010, while also leading his team to victory in the LKL Finals in 2012 and 2013, winning Finals MVP in 2013. He’d be a good backup to come off the bench behind Carmelo, averaging 12 points a game in the last two years.
The Knicks also brought in two big men to help support Kristaps Porziņģis. The Latvian – affectionately known as Porzingod by the fans – had himself a breakout rookie year in the NBA, averaging over 14 points, seven rebounds and close to two blocks a game as he earned himself a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.
He will most likely stay at the power forward position, as Joakim Noah – also from the Bulls – will lock down the center position. Noah only played in 29 games last season, starting in two of them, but when healthy, he’s a double-double threat who is a great defender. There’s a reason he’s a former Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team, two-time All Star and two time NBA All-Defensive First Team.
This season, on paper, features one of the best squads fielded in a long time. The team have a new coach at the reigns – that’s nothing new – but the talent on the roster is finally just that. Talented.
The Knicks have proven All Stars; players that don’t just have one good season under their belt, but a vast resume to point to that says ‘I’m more than a fluke’.
I never thought a Martin Luther King quote could be used to sum up the state of Knicks basketball, but this one sentence epitomises everything it is to be a fan:
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope”.
joe
Guest
Derrick Rose has declared the Knicks a "super team" along the lines of Warriors or the 2011-14 Miami Heat.So that should give Knicks fans plenty of confidence going into the season??? Rose had tremendous athletic ability before the injuries but was never the sharpest guy mentally.Now he is still not the brightest but without the great athletic prowess.Not a good combination.
joe
Guest
I don't dislike the article.Its fine.I disagree with your optimism but you may be 100% correct the Knicks put it all together & have a great season. I just look at track record of the franchise (especially since Dolan took over) & its hard to believe the Knicks will be legitimate contenders. I really like Jeff Hornacek as a coach so thats a start.I hope he does well he got a raw deal in Phoenix when management undercut him by getting rid of some quality players in the 2nd season he was there.
reegs82
Guest
That tallest Dwarf comment is one of the best I've seen.
Marshall
Guest
Disagree. That team was better at almost every position except PF depending on how porzingis develops this year
Australia plus
Guest
Knicks are going to the eastern Conference. This roster, is better then the Knicks team, that won 50 plus games 3 years ago.
Australia plus
Guest
HernanGomez is 22 years old & was one of the best bigman in Europe Last year. Not to mention, the Knicks have 3 draft picks next year and cap space; so not really a short term fix.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Do the Knicks have their own 1st draft pick this year? I don't think they do. They should try and accumulate as many assets as they can but still keep cap flexability.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
I think Kuzminskas could come in and contribute really well playing behind Carmelo. The players coming off the bench will be a big asset if they can deliver this season.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
I get that you don't like the Knicks and/or my article, You've made that point pretty clear. I'd much rather "get a 7 seed [and] maybe win a 1st round playoff series" then not make the playoffs at all.
joe
Guest
A "big improvement" on the Knicks teams from past 2 years isn't saying much.Thats like bragging you're the tallest dwarf. And these guys are past their prime whether you want to acknowledge it or not.Derek Rose will never be that player we saw in 2011 again.I love Noah's game but he is old & his best years are behind him.I never considered Carmelo Anthony elite.He was a good scorer in his prime.That's it.Maybe he has another year or two near his peak but so what? What did Carmelo ever do "at his peak"?..absolutely nothing.So if that's your big 3,good luck.They are in the East so they could go 39-43 & still get a 7 seed,maybe they win a 1st round playoff series if the matchup is right.To me that's about their best case scenario
Swampy
Guest
You'd have been better off tanking this season and getting as many draft picks as you could for Melo. Next year's draft has as many as 5 franchise players in it.
Carl Spackler (NBA finals MVP on NBA2K16)
Guest
If healthy the Knickerbockers will get into the playoffs, but I cannot see them building a championship outfit with this line up. Maybe semi finals in the conference at best. Good move picking up the Lithuanian, they need to recruit more internationals to give themselves a shot at getting around the draft which is a lottery they have been losing. The club should take a good look at the non NBA talent at the Olympics to see who else is a prospect. There would be handy Argentinians, Europeans and Antipods they could also take a look at.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
I think the signings we made are a big improvement on our squads from the past couple of years, even if some of the players do have injury history and are "past their prime" in some people's opinion.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
I too share the same guarded optimism... I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
No, but I'd much rather see us make the postseason again for a few years than suffer through endless 17-65 seasons. We've gotta take baby steps - first goal is making it to the playoffs, then we have to endeavour to make the conference semifinals and so on. Improve on our performance each year.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
The life of a Knicks fan is living season to season unfortunately. When you support such a woeful franchise, you can only look to the next year as a source of hope as opposed to thinking about long-term goals like other franchises. Hopefully some of the younger players on the team (Porzingis, Kuzminskas, Plumlee - even a guy like Jennings) can help us become a perennial playoff fixture in the short term, which will not only mean that players want to stay with us, but that others want to come to us. The Timberwolves are certainly in an envious position, even though when they traded away Kevin Love it looked like all hope was lost.
Kingcowboy
Guest
That is fair enough but as a fan are you happy with that? An old team getting older and that doesn't really have a shot at winning a title. I think the 76's and T'wolves are a lot closer to winning a title then the knicks. To me they should of built aroud Zinger, traded Melo for some draft picks and stayed young. At least they didn't sign D Rose to a long contract with those knees.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Even if they get the fifth seed, that's still a start for them to build upon. Just making the playoffs again would be a huge step for this franchise.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Knicks looking for the quick fix again. Signing old players to long contract eg Noah. I just sit back and laugh. They will not win a title by going down this road again. Yer they might get the fifth seed but no way can they complete with the likes of the Cavs, Celts or Raptors. I know this isn't a knicks move but they should hire Sam Hinkie and see what he can do.
Swampy
Guest
Poor Knicks. I hope the Rose acquisition turns out ok - Rose deserves the chance to play out a career that could have been great but was cruelly revised by his knees. However, I just wonder what on earth the Knickerbockers are doing? This off season has actually reduced hope for the future. The Knicks might do ok the next two seasons if all the parts fit and can stay on the court - you'd think they'd even make the playoffs! But what happens in two to three years? Melo will likely be done, Rose will be a free agent again and who knows if his body can even handle two more NBA seasons, Noah will be old and on the point of retiring I'd guess and other than Porzingas they will have had no young high draft picks added to the team. Yet again they will need to seek free agents to boost the team stocks. I'd rather be in the T-Wolves position right now than the Knicks. They have a four player young core that they can build around for years to come. Let's compare two poor teams from 2012. New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors. 36 and 23 wins respectively in the lockout shortened season. One team built via the draft and one team made some crazy trades and free agent signings to try and win a title.