Fansided

5 offseason needs for the New York Knicks

By Ian Levy

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks addresses the crowd before the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 10, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks addresses the crowd before the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 10, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 23: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during a game against the Houston Rockets on January 23, 2019 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 23: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during a game against the Houston Rockets on January 23, 2019 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Figure out Frank Ntilikina

Frank Ntilikina’s second season was an offensive disaster. He regressed enormously as a finisher and shooter, ending the year at 37.1 percent on 2-pointers and 28.7 on 3-pointers, appearing to lose both accuracy and confidence. ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus estimated his offensive value to be enormously negative, ranking 508th out of 514 players this season. His struggles were significant enough that, on a 17-win team with nothing to play for but the future, he fell mostly out of the rotation and, after a nagging groin injury wiped out most of the second half of the season, played about half as many minutes as he did as a rookie.

Despite all that, Ntilikina is still one of the most valuable assets on the Knicks’ roster. He will turn 21 this summer and still has enormous defensive potential in the backcourt. Paired with his size and (at least theoretically) versatile offensive skill set he could be the kind of player who unlocks all sorts of lineup combinations. Moving into next season, the Knicks need to work on patiently rebuilding Ntilikina’s confidence, putting him in positions to succeed and beginning to nudge him into the role they envision for him in the future as the rest of the roster begins to take shape.

Home/NBA Free Agency