TrueFan 2017 New York Knicks Off-Season Review And Grade
2017
NEW YORK KNICKS TRUEFAN OFF-SEASON REVIEW
Written By Kyle Crabbe
Twitter:@KthetruestKnick
The 2017 NBA off-season was a
worldwind for the New York Knicks basketball organization. We saw
many moves and many changes and the complete change of face of the
New York Knicks Franchise. Here we breakdown the 2017 NY Knicks
off-season and give knick fans a view of what outlook to have for the
upcoming 2017-2018 NBA season.
A) Front
Office and Coaching Staff
B) 2017
NBA Draft
C) Free
Agency
D)
Carmelo Anthony Situation
E)
TrueFan Off-Season Grade And Verdict
Front
Office And Coaching Staff
A)
Mutual Departure of President Phil Jackson
On
June 28, days after the NY Knicks completed their 2017 NBA Draft,
owner James Dolan announced the NY Knicks organization and President
Phil Jackson agreed to mutually part ways. Many pundits and
commentators applauded this move from the New York Knicks
organization. Phil Jackson came to New York with his 13 NBA
Championship rings and attempted to build a successful basketball
culture around his infamous system the Triangle Offense. In 3 full
seasons as head of the helm in New York, the Knicks basketball team
played to a dismal record of 80-166 and failed to make the playoffs
in all three seasons. However Phil Jackson tenure can be credited for
building a sustained young core in New York in his selections and
discovery of young talents Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez,
Kyle O'Quinn, Ron Baker, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Damyean Dotson, Luke
Kornet, and Frank Ntilikina. Already Porzingis and Hernangomez have
produced All-Rookie Team selections and both logged All Rookie
Sophomore game appearances.
B)
Scott Perry Named New General Manager
On
July 14, NY Knicks Owner James Dolan announced General Manager Steve
Mills would be promoted to President of Basketball Operations and
Scott Perry would become the new NY Knicks General Manager. Scott
Perry brings to the NY Knicks organization great basketball
experience and excelling experience in successful basketball
organizations. Scott Perry's most notable accomplishments include being
part of the front office that drafted Kevin Durant to Seattle in the
2007 NBA Draft, and being an integral part of the Detriot Pistons
front office from 2002 to 2012, which included during that time the
Detriot Pistons winning a World Championship in 2004 and going to 5
straight conference finals appearances.
C)
New General Manager Scott Perry Shapes Up Knicks Front Office
With
New General Manager Scott Perry up and running, Perry quickly added
to his front office staff to help him bring his vision for the New
York Knicks to fruition. To aid Perry, Perry and President Steve
Mills on August 8th announced the hirings of Gerald Madkins as
assistant general manager, Craig Robinson as Vice
President of Player Development and G League Operations, Harold
Ellis as Director of Player Personnel, Michael Arcieri
as Director of Basketball Strategy and Fred Cofield as
a Scout.
TrueFan
Grade And Verdict
Grade:
C+
I
applaud the New York Knicks for the direction their leadership is
taking the franchise. I feel this off-season the Knicks front office
did a great job of putting a single vision and focus toward the
direction of the organization. That single focus being that of
building a team around “youth, athleticism, and defense”. I feel
very confident in newly appointed President Steve Mills and new
General Manager Scott Perry abilities to steer this Knicks basketball
team toward winning a NBA Title. However, as for the New York Knicks
entire off-season front office shapeup, I believe there were many mishaps on that front. The ouster or removal of President Phil Jackson wasn't by any
measures of basketball logic a brilliant maneuver. To make a quick
comparable to Head Coach of the legendary successful New England
Patriots Bill Bellicheck, who continues to make roster moves and
player comments contrary to popular notion but we agreed he is one of
the brightest mind in his sport regardless of his decisions and
therefore minimize our loud criticism tell further results conclude.
If we agree with that, we can also agree that Phil Jackson showcased a head-strong
stubbornness in his approaches to developing the New York Knicks
basketball team. The critical twitter comments and bold moves coming
from a basketball mind responsible for decades worth of championships
presents us no way to justify the premature criticism and then
eventually departure of Jackson. I believe the new Knicks front
office will learn from errors of the Jackson administration, mainly
the struggles with public relations. We can already see the improvement with the evidence of both President Steve Mills and General Manager Scott
Perry usage of writing their views and motives openly and publicly on the Knicks blog.
2017 NBA Draft
The
New York Knicks had a very high lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
With the 8th overall selection the New York Knicks took
the consenus number one International Prospect in French Point Guard
Frank Ntilikina. The Frank Nitlikina draft pick has been meet with
typical New York City skepticism and criticism. Many sports
commentators have questioned the selection due to the other exciting
player options that were available for that draft choice in North
Carolina State Point Guard Dennis Smith Jr, and Kentucky Shooting
Guard Malik Monk. Frank Ntilikina is a impressive prospect, held as
this year's draft best international player as well as a young player
with an already accomplished track record. Ntilikina was the 2016
FIBA Europe Under18 MVP as well as 2x French League Best Young
Player, a award won by fellow NBA players like San Antonio Spurs PG
Tony Parker, Charlotte Hornets SG Nicholas Batum, Orlando Magic SG
Evan Fournier, and Houston Rockets C Clint Capela.
The
New York Knicks also had two draft selections in the second round of
the 2017 NBA Draft. With the 44th pick in the 2017 Draft
the New York Knicks selected Houston Sharpshooter Damyean Dotson and
with the 58th pick selected International Serbian Point
Guard Ognjen Jaramaz. Houston's Damyean Dotson is a extremely
athletic wing with a great shooting touch. Whereas PG Ognjen Jaramaz
is also an explosive athlete that will likely play overseas for a
year or two before starting possibly joining the Knicks basketball
team in the near future.
TrueFan
Grade And Verdict
Grade:A
I
believe that the Phil Jackson lead Knicks had a very strong 2017 NBA
draft. With the Knicks current young roster being set in the
frontcourt, the Knicks front office did a good job bringing in young
talent to bolster the backcourt. The main critics of the Knicks
draft, aimed their criticism at the selection of Frank Ntilikina. One
argument is the assumption that Frank Ntilikina was choose mainly for
his fit to the Phil Jackson Triangle Offense system of basketball
over choosing the more athletic prospects in Smith and Monk. However
to take a strong look at what the Knicks roster needed to help build with what they already had in PF Kristaps Porzingis and C Willy
Hernangomez, we can agree the NY Knicks then needed a strong
pass-first point guard that could also lead the team well on the
defensive end. Out of the three prospects most associated with the
Knicks in pre-draft predictions Ntilikina is still a better choice
over Dennis Smith Jr and Malik Monk for those reasons. Also, given
new General Manager's Scott Perry's past with the defensively great
2000's Detroit Pistons, we can strongly believe he would also have
considered Frank Ntilikina over the crowd. To further eliminate the
“Triangle Fit Myth”, President Steve Mills who is also preaching
defense, smart basketball and length, as Knicks General Manager last
season made over 3 trips to France to personally scout Frank
Ntilikina and has said in countless press conferences this summer he
would of made the same selection if it was his call and he is proud
of the Ntilikina selection. Ntilikina being seasoned at the European
style of play is also a perfect compliment for Hernangomez and
Porzingis in the European style of pick and roll offense. I also
believe Damyean Dotson has a chance to develop into a Klay Thompson
caliber player in time. He came into the draft arguably the best
shooter in the draft, who shot 44% from 3pt last year at Houston and
in 5 games with the Knicks in the NBA Orlando Summer League shot 48%
from long range. I feel the Knicks can look to benefit from this
draft for the several years to come.
Free Agency
The
New York Knicks had a very active Free Agency in the latter periods
after remaining quite dormant in the earlier moments of the 2017 NBA
free agency period. As we take a look at the timeline for the Knicks
Free Agency signings we see that the Knicks took their time to fill
the roster.
-July
3rd 2017 – Signed Undrafted Rookie
Center Luke Kornet to a Two-Way Contract.
-July
8th 2017 – Signed Shooting Guard
Tim Hardaway Jr to a 4-year, $71 Million Contract.
-August
7th 2017 – Signed Combo Guard Ron
Baker to a 2-year, $9 Million Contract.
-August
8th 2017 – Signed Point Guard Ramon
Sessions to a 1-year, $2.3 Million Contract.
-August
8th 2017 – Signed Small Forward
Michael Beasley to a 1-year, $2.1 Million Contract.
-August
18th 2017 – Signed Undrafted Rookie
Power Forward Nigel Hayes.
-August
18th 2017 – Signed Undrafted Rookie
Forward Jamel Artis.
-August
18th 2017 – Signed Undrafted Rookie
PG/SG Xavier Rathan-Mayes.
-August
18th 2017 – Signed Point Guard
Jarrett Jack to a 1-year, $2.3 Million Contract.
The
New York Knicks brought a lot of new faces into the Garden this year
after a interesting 2017 Free Agency. The Knicks new front office
lead by Steve Mills and Scott Perry continued to look to bring in
backcourt talent to help not only backcourt depth but to aid in
mentoring their young Franchise Point Guard in Frank Ntilikina.
The
first and biggest Free Agency signing for the New York Knicks was
bringing back SG Tim Hardaway back on a 4-year, $71 Million Dollar
Deal. Tim Hardaway Jr was once drafted by the New York Knicks in 2013
NBA Draft and comes back to the Knicks after two years with the
Atlanta Hawks. Hardaway is coming off his best season in the NBA
playing 79 games last year for a playoff bound team and averaging
over 14 points a game for the Hawks. Hardaway, only age 25, comes
into his prime as a significant backcourt scoring option to mesh with
Knicks frontcourt of Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez.
The
Knicks also added depth to their backcourt by bringing back to New
York Combo Guard Ron Baker as well as veteran Point Guards Ramon
Sessions and Jarrett Jack. Jack is well noted by 2x NBA Mvp Steph
Curry as one of his best mentors in the NBA and that should hold well
for young Knicks Point Guard Frank Nitilikina. Scott Perry continued
to add veteran players with a niche for the offensive end in signing
former 2nd overall draft pick SF Michael Beasley.
Beasley's best career year came in 2010 under current Knicks
assistant coach Kurt Rambis in Minnesota averaging 19 Points Per
Game, 6 Rebounds Per Game, on 45% Field Goal Percentage.
TrueFan
Grade And Verdict
Grade:B
I
believe the Knicks had a quietly good 2017 Free Agency. In lure of
the departure of Carmelo Anthony the Knicks Scott Perry led front
office were able to put together a roster that shouldn't be to much
worst off without Carmelo. I believe Perry did a great job addressing
all the needs this particular roster had coming into the 2017-18 NBA
season. The first issue the Knicks had was with their defense. By
trading Carmelo Anthony and not resigning PG Derrick Rose, the Knicks
added to solving that issue by subtraction. But by losing Derrick
Rose the Knicks lost a starting caliber Point Guard in today's NBA.
I
believe the Knicks will be able to start Frank Ntilikina at Point
Guard to start the season and I believe Ntilikina will make an
immediate impact and have a hand on the defensive end to upgrade play of the Knicks Defense. So the
signings of PG Ramon Sessions and PG Jarrett Jack to me are perfect
for this Knicks team and very unrated pickups. They both add depth,
experience, and skill sets that fit a lot of what made Head Coach
Jeff Hornacek successful with the Phoenix Suns( He used 3 Point Guard
Lineups Successfully with PG's Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah
Thomas). I especially like the Jarrett Jack signing because of his
established track record of mentorship with Point Guard Stars Steph
Curry and Chris Paul. I believe Jack can be perfect to help in
winning games this season as well as helping Nitilikina find his
confidence in the NBA. I also feel the resigning of Ron Baker proves
that the kind of style of play the Knicks New Brass say the want to
play in “rugged competitive basketball” is exactly the play Ron
Baker exemplifies. I believe Baker will be something like a Boston
Celtics Marcus Smart for the Knicks team, a ball handling-play maker
that will bring a competitive rugged spirit and contribute on both
sides of the court.
The
Knicks biggest signing of the off-season in Tim Hardaway Jr, I
believe is another underrated acquisition by the Knicks. Hardaway
only 25, and a former 2014 All-NBA Rookie First Team is coming off
two seasons with the hawks in which he showed improvement on both his
offensive game and his defensive side of the basketball. I believe
Hardaway has matured and also being that he trained with future hall
of famer Dwayne Wade in the off-season, in my opinion Hardaway is
primed for a breakout season. I like this signing from Steve Mills
because Hardaway 1) Has already performed on the big stage in New
York 2) Hardaway is a protypical Shooting Guard in today's NBA; a 6'6
Guard that can shoot well long range and make plays handling the ball
3) Hardaway at 25 and the son of a NBA Player is entering his prime
and primed for success in the NBA. I believe Hardaway will do a good
job justifying the contract he was given by the Knicks this
off-season starting this season and will be a fringe all-star
candidate this year in the Eastern Conference.
Lastly
I love the Michael Beasley signing. Michael Beasley can be considered
Carmelo Anthony “Light” from the left hand, for the way his game
mimic's Carmelo's. He plays the same position and is lauded for the
same skill set, a great ability to score the basketball. With Carmelo
still with the Knicks, Beasley would have been a great scoring option
to come off the bench and spell Carmelo. With Carmelo now in OKC,
Beasley can take the starting Small Forward Postion for the New York
Knicks and average 17-20 Point Per Game this coming season. I feel
since Perry took the helm as General Manager of the New York Knicks,
the Knicks player signings have been smart and responsible.
Carmelo Anthony
Situation/Trade
For
the entire off-season the question of what would happen to in-house
NY Knicks Superstar Carmelo Anthony has been popular debate. A
speculated fued fueled by the New York Media as well as popular
Sports Media Outlets between Knicks President Phil Jackson and
Carmelo Anthony caused a rift between the star and the organization
that seemed to had met its ends meet. However, after Phil Jackson's
departure it was concluded that Carmelo at this point in his career
wasn't fit to be part of a rebuild in New York as he his
Championship window was closing. As rampant trade rumors swirled all
summer that Carmelo Anthony would be traded to the Houston Rockets to
reunite with former Head Coach Mike D'Antoni and team up with star
buddies PG Chris Paul and SG James Harden many believed as the summer
waned Melo would remain with the Knicks thru the beginning of the
coming 2017 Season. However on September 25, 2017 the New York Knicks
announed their Franchise Player of the last 7 year would be traded to
the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here we outline the details of the Carmelo
Anthony trade to OKC:
OKC
Thunder Receive
SF
Carmelo Anthony
New
York Knicks Receive
C
Enes Kanter
SF
Doug McDermott
2018
Chicago Bulls 2nd Round Pick
The
Carmelo Anthony trade seemed to be a move that had to happen to
complete the youth process started by this current New York Knicks.
At this point in Carmelo Anthony's career and seeing what other teams
received from trading stars like Jimmy Butler, Chris Paul, and Paul
George the Knicks Front Office make a respectable deal here. In this
NYK/OKC trade the OKC Thunder get the best player involved in this
trade in Carmelo Anthony. However given the Knicks current situation
this was a win-win deal for them. The Knicks are able to add a riches
of sort in the newly added frontcourt depth to their already rich
frontcourt prospects. In Enes Kanter, the Knicks get one of the best
interior scorers in the NBA, a highly talented big man that can
immediately contribute effectively to this NY Knicks team. Kanter has
ranked top 5 in In-the-Paint Scoring and offensive rebounding in the
NBA within the last two seasons off the OKC Thunder bench. In Doug
McDermott the Knicks receive another young piece with promise, with
an established track record as a great college player and as a young
player with great long range shooting touch.
TrueFan
Grade And Verdict
Grade:B
I
feel this was a really good trade but not great trade for the NY
Knicks. The Knicks did not get equal value for Carmelo Anthony but
that was expected given the particulars of Carmelo's Situation(
No-Trade Clause, Championship Window). However the Knicks were able
to simultaneous thanks Carmelo Anthony for his time with the Knicks
by sending him to the perfect situation for his ambitions as well as
adding young talent with team-friendly contracts that fits the vision
of 25 and under talented competing players. I feel bringing in Enes
Kanter gives this year's Knicks an embarrassment of riches in their
frontcourt as well as depth should any of those players get hurt and
have to miss time. I feel this trade is also great because of the
pick they received in the 2018 Chicago Bulls 2nd round
pick, because it is very similar in position to where the OKC 1st
round pick would be, making this addition to the trade quietly
effective and valuable.
2018
New York Knicks Outlook
1) Biggest
Off-Season Need
Point
Guard
2) Most
Important Team Decision
Carmelo
Anthony Stay or Go
3)
Financial Situation
Good -
19th in Payroll, 11th in Cap Space
4) Future
Outlook
Trending
Up – Kristaps Porzingis Future All-Star
5) Front
Office Stability
Improved –
New GM Scott Perry, New Staff
TrueFan Off-Season Grade
And Verdict
Grade:
B
I
feel the New York Knicks had a momentous off-season of great change
and huge change of direction for the franchise. Overall I feel the
Knicks had a very successful off-season and have put together a very
competitive team for the coming year and have positioned the
franchise well for the coming years in the NBA. I strongly dislike
the popular blaming of Phil Jackson for doing what he was paid to do
as Knicks President. As the President of Basketball Operations and
not the General Manager Phil Jackson was appointed to delegate or
oversee the daily tasks and moves of management of the New York
Knicks basketball operations. Phil Jackson's main error in my opinion
was in entrusting Carmelo Anthony to buy into his principles like
greats Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal did. And to
use those principles to lead into a winning culture in the Knicks
locker room. Phil Jackson was unable to reach Carmelo in my belief on
the day to day because he wasn't coaching and this created a rift
when Jackson, just like in his past used the media to point out parts
of Carmelo's game to improve and make Carmelo greater.
However
I feel as a Knicks fan I must thank the extremely successful Phil
Jackson for being yet again successful in accomplishing what he set
forward when he took over the Knicks Presidency 4 years ago. Phil
came in to change the culture and to create a structure in place that
could have sustained successful for many years to come. After this
year's draft Phil Jackson did just that. Phil Jackson will leave 5
young players he drafted or signed as a rookie to lead as the core of
the future Knicks for years to come. These players in Frank
Ntilikina, Damyean Dotson, Ron Baker, Willy Hernangomez, and Kristaps
Porzingis, I believe will bring the New York Knicks to heights of
success we haven't seen in New York since the 1990's Patrick Ewing
lead Knicks. Phil Jackson was meticulous in his development in these
Knicks and has left the Knicks in not only a better position than
when he got here but has left the new Knicks Front Office; A) All the
Knicks Future Draft Picks B) Financial Flexibility And Cap Space for
years to come C) Good Young Coach in Jeff Hornacek. So I believe
contrary to what popular media states, we will see in Phil Jackson's
tenure in the coming years his results as President of the New York
Knicks will look greatly different than now and more favorable to the
great legacy we already know of the great Phil Jackson.
With
the Knicks Organization moving forward with the Steve Mills-Scott
Perry lead front office the Knicks appear to be in great hands. Since
Scott Perry has taken the helm at General Manager of the Knicks his
moves have been deliberate and sharp. I believe he handled the Carmelo Anthony
situation and following Carmelo trade to OKC very well. Perry has
shown great class, thoughtfulness, and integrity thus far with New
York. I feel Perry has done a great job shaping out the Knicks roster
with a nice blend of talents, experience, and potential. I love the
Michael Beasley and Jarrett Jack signings and I believe the pieces
Perry got back in the Carmelo deal with have significant
contributions in the coming season.
Objectively
I believe the 2017-18 New York Knicks will perform much better than
what will be expected of them. I see players like Kristaps Porzingis
and Tim Hardaway Jr taking great steps forward this season under a
Jeff Hornacek system. I also feel that the additions of Rookie Point
Guard Frank Ntilikina and Veteran Forward Michael Beasley will make
surprisingly effective impacts on the new 2018 NY Knicks starting
lineup.
In
speaking of Porzingis, I believe Kristaps Porzingis with the
departure of Carmelo Anthony will become a top 10 player this season.
In my opinion Porzingis sports a uniquely talented skill set that
meshes the prowess of two Power Forward Legends in Kevin Garnett and
Dirk Nowitzki. I foresee Porzingis being a All-Star Starter this year
in the Eastern Conference and pushing the Knicks to possibly being a
playoff team.
The
2017 New York Knicks off-season changed the entire outlook of the New
York Franchise. For the upcoming season we will see how these changes
take hold on the world's most famous arena. I will drive more
in-depth on what to expect from the 2017-18 Knicks on my 2017-18 New
York Knicks Season Preview.
Current
NY 2017-18 Knicks Depth Chart
| PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
| STARTERS | FRANK NTILIKINA | TIM HARDAWAY JR | MICHAEL BEASLEY | KRISTAPS PORZINGIS | WILLY HERNANGOMEZ |
| BENCH | RAMON SESSIONS | COURTNEY LEE | MINDAUGAS KUZMINSKAS | LANCE THOMAS | ENES KANTER |
| JARRETT JACK | RON BAKER | DOUG MCDERMOTT | KYLE O'QUINN | JOAKIM NOAH | |
| XAVIER RATHAN-MAYES | DAMYEAN DOTSON | JAMEL ARTIS | NIGEL HAYES | LUKE KORNET |
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