Knicks: Which free agents should New York re-sign this offseason?

5. Nerlens Noel

Nerlens Noel was limited by an ankle injury during the Knicks’ playoff series, which is unfortunate. He’s a top interior defender, able to stop big men and speedy guards alike, and New York missed his presence in the paint with every Trae Young drive to the basket.

Noel isn’t the most athletic player, but his anticipation is uncanny. He uses his basketball IQ to set himself up for emphatic blocked shots. If Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks want to maintain the defensive focus that brought them back to the playoffs for the first time in years, they’d be wise to keep their defensive anchor.

Verdict: Re-sign

4. Taj Gibson

Taj Gibson proved himself to be a valuable part of the Knicks’ playoff rotation. The journeyman power forward averaged 5.0 points and 7.0 rebounds along with 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in five appearances.

Thibodeau moved Gibson into the starting lineup for the final three games of the series, showing the trust he has in the veteran. The Coach of the Year obviously has plenty of influence on the front office and Gibson is a long-time Thibodeau favorite, so it’s within the realm of possibility that he stays in New York. With that being said, our opinion is the Knicks should only do so on a minimum deal if they can’t round out the roster in better ways. They don’t need to spend a roster spot on a 35-year-old backup big man unless it’s necessary.

Verdict: Let him walk