The New York Knicks Offseason: Not a Home Run, Not a Strikeout, but a Solid Line Drive

(ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 4, 2019)

It has now been one month since the Brooklyn Nets made an offseason coup and were able to obtain Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Not only that, but the LA Clippers won the services of Kawhi Leonard by acquiring Paul George. Even the Lakers, who lost out on many of the top free agents, made up for it by getting Anthony Davis via a trade on Father’s Day. That left the New York Knicks in the dust. As a big market team, New York felt like the only one that did not make a major splash in the offseason. Their fans were none too pleased and it felt like more sadness was on its way to Madison Square Garden. After dwelling on my thoughts of how Scott Perry and crew dealt with the offseason, I came to one conclusion:

Relax, Knicks fans. You will be okay.

Did the Knicks “win” the offseason? By no means. I am fully aware of the fact that 3 teams in the Atlantic Division did more in the past few months than the Knicks did. The Sixers fan in me is not scared of the Knicks, but I am fully accepting of the fact that their roster improved. Yet if you talk to a fair majority of Knicks fans, they will tell you that the offseason was a total failure because none of the top free agents came to New York (well, they did, but they just went to a different borough. You know what I mean). Total failure is not the phrase I would use to describe how the summer went. Let’s take a look at the players the Knicks signed over the course of the offseason.

• Julius Randle (3 yrs $63 million)
• Bobby Portis (2 yrs $31 million)
• Taj Gibson (2 yrs $20 million)
• Elfrid Payton (2 yrs $16 million)
• Wayne Ellington (2 yrs $16 million)
• Reggie Bullock (2 yrs $21 million)

These guys may not be difference makers, but it is a sure improvement over starting guys like Isaiah Hicks, Noah Vonleh, or Lance Thomas. Plus, here’s your EJ Fun Fact of the Day, ladies and gentlemen. Out of all of the teams in the NBA, which team’s offseason signings combined for the most PPG?

You guessed it, the Knicks.

Julius Randle, the headliner of this Knicks offseason class, put up 21 points per game on a weak Pelicans team. Sure, maybe $20 million per year going to Randle could be a little steep, but it definitely shows the new Knicks way of thinking. They are aggressive. They are not afraid to add instead of subtract like they have been content with doing for the past five or so years.

Portis is decent, a solid bench piece who could turn into a potential starter. He scored 16 points per game with the Wizards. I’m not asking him to be a franchise difference maker, but he will stand out on the Knicks. Expect that points per game to rise a little bit higher in The Garden.

Gibson has not impressed me during his time with the Timberwolves. A once feared player, Taj has not been the same ever since he left the Bulls to go to Minnesota. The numbers are still there, but he is aging. Yet, I still like this signing. He will most likely be a player who comes off the bench, but still has that veteran presence. A leader in the locker room for sure, which is why the Knicks, whose roster is made up of younger players, decided to make this signing.

Elfrid Payton is on a 2 year, “prove it” deal. I was a big fan of Payton’s in Orlando, but ever since that trade to Phoenix last year, he has regressed a little bit. Health has been Elfrid’s biggest rival, as he was only limited to 42 of 82 games. His stats have gone down, yes, but he still has tremendous potential. Where better place for that potential to shine in the bright lights of New York?

Ellington and Bullock fall into the same category as they will not be receiving much playing time. They will come off the bench and provide you with scoring if you need them to, but New York fans should not ask for much out of them. However, Ellington is a solid shooter, and he has some upside in that category

In short, the Knicks this year went for quantity over quality. Even then, there’s still one big quality name in this bunch. It may not be a big name that Knicks fans have wanted in the Garden since Carmelo Anthony, but it’s a well rounded group that has the ability to develop. Randle, Portis, and Payton could very well be playing in the prime of their careers in blue and orange. Add that to the young talent of RJ Barrett, Allonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson, Dennis Smith Jr., and Kevin Knox, New York may be a hot destination in just a few years.

I know I most likely did not convince Knick fans that their offseason was not terrible. The expectation was that a star was coming to their team and they were let down once again. However, for the first time in a while, there is potential. There is potential that this free agent class could surprise us all. There is potential that KD and Kyrie’s egos could clash in Brooklyn and the team flops. There is potential that a new free agent looks at the Knicks and realizes that New York isn’t so bad after all. However, there is also potential that this vicious cycle could repeat again, and I am making the same spiel after the Knicks strike out on Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021.

Only time will tell for the New York Knicks. Just don’t hang your heads at the result of this free agent class. Give it a few years, and maybe, just maybe, New York’s team can be back on top, hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy once again.