Fansided

3 New York Knicks who won’t be back next season

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks won 103-99. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks won 103-99. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Their first season under Tom Thibodeau will go down as a success, but these three New York Knicks will not be back on the roster next season.

The New York Knicks‘ hiring of Tom Thibodeau as their new coach was not loved by everyone initially, but a 41-31 regular season record and earning the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference will go down as a success, despite a five-game first-round playoff exit at the hands of the more talented Atlanta Hawks.

Julius Randle won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award this year, and despite an awful playoff showing, he’s a piece to build around. RJ Barrett, the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, improved across the board in his second season. But with just eight players under contract and cap space to burn, the roster could look a lot different come the start of next season.

One of the Knicks’ impending free agents, Sixth Man of the Year finalist Derrick Rose, has already said he wants to come back. He should be wanted back, as Rose is still a productive player and Thibodeau might like to keep one of his guys around.

On the latter point of being a productive player, the same, of course, can’t be said for everyone as the Knicks look to build on this season. In particular, these three players won’t be back next season.

3. Taj Gibson

As Thibodeau instilled his way of doing things in New York, having Taj Gibson around certainly carried some intangible value. In terms of on-court impact, the soon-to-be 36-year old averaged 5.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over 45 regular season appearances (three starts). Then he started the last three games of the series against Atlanta, with at least 6 rebounds in four of the five total games and at least 30 minutes in two of those games.

If Thibodeau has a significant say, the Knicks could bring Gibson back on the cheap without impacting any other offseason plans. But as they consider what will be some turnover at the center position, with Nerlens Noel also a free agent, and how they’ll spend in general, they can do better than a 35-year-old Gibson as a backup big man.

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