New York Knicks Minute : State of The TrueFan

New York Knicks Minute: State Of The Fan

Written By Kyle Crabbe

Follow on Twitter: @KthetruestKnick

As the 2017-18 New York Knicks Season has taken it's ups and downs we can take a step back and look at where the current Knicks are and where the state of the Knicks organization might be headed in the near future. Here at TrueFan we will break down the upcoming Trade Deadline and trade rumors along with tackling the topic of fans voicing up over Knicks Head Coach Jeff Hornacek and the call for the Knicks to either tank for a high 2018 Draft Pick or make a strong playoff push like Young Franchise Player Kristaps Porzingis and many of his teammates are pushing for.

Trade Deadline

With the NBA 2018 Trade deadline fast approaching and coming February 8^th, we can better believe there will be a healthy amount of trades and deals in play in the coming days. We can assume the Knicks will also be in play as we have heard rumors surrounding several of their players mainly around veterans Shooting Guard Courtney Lee and Power Forward/Center Kyle O'Quinn.

There is also the question of whether the New York Knicks should be buyers or sellers at this Trade Deadline season. I personally don't think the Knicks are at a position where they could be catagorized as either. I feel the Knicks can be sellers in the matter of dealing a couple of their veteran players but I also feel they can be buyers in getting a young player or two that fits their future plans like a Nets SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Portland Trailblazers SF Moe Harkless or a Detroit Pistons SF Stanley Johnson. However, I don't feel the Knicks will be interested in adding a big piece like the Pistons recently did in adding PF Blake Griffin either.

I do believe the Knicks have a few great deals out there for this trade season, to add maybe another draft asset or another young player to fit the young nucleus the Perry/Mills front office is building. I choose 3 Knick players that I believe will be traded and ran these possible trades through the ESPN NBA Trade Machine. The 3 players I choose were SG Courtney Lee, C Joakim Noah, and PF/C Kyle O'Quinn.

For SG Courtney Lee, he becomes a good trade asset for a few reasons. 1) Lee is having a career year and his trade value is probably at it's highest. 2) Lee is a valuable player in the fact he is a 3-and D player to it's core definition. 3) Lee has playoff experience and can play in virtually any system. 4) At age 32, Lee also doesn't match the timeline of the Knicks young core(Porzingis 22, Hernangomez 23, Kanter 25, Burke 25, Ntilikina 19).

For Joakim Noah, he also has a few reasons why being in New York might not be the best for him moving forward. 1) Noah is highly decorated player who because of his situation in New York doesn't have the opportunity to perform. 2) Noah being choosed by Phil Jackson to play on a veteran team with Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, Lance Thomas; making it as his timeline at this point clearly doesn't fit with what New York is building. 3) Noah still can be a valuable piece for a contending team in the NBA. 4) Trading Noah's contract will allow the Knicks to lock up Center Enes Kanter to a possible long-term deal.

For Kyle O'Quinn, he might be the most likely Knick player dealt, because his abilities far outweigh his cost and he would be an ideal addition for any contending team. Kyle O'Quinn being from Queens New York, it would be hard to see him go as he has brought the old 1990's style New York Knick basketball back to the garden in his time here. However with teams like the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks having interest in his services, it could be wise for the Knicks to make that deal if they can get a draft asset back.

Trades

Joakim Noah to Minnesota

New York Receives

C Cole Alrich

PF Nemanja Bjelica

SF Shabazz Muhammad

Minnesota Receives

C Joakim Noah

2018 Chicago Bulls 2^nd Round Pick

TrueFan Take:

I feel this trade works well for all parties involved. For Noah he wins for several reasons. 1) Noah gets to go to a team and compete for a Championship. 2) Noah gets to reunite with the coach he has had the most success in his career with and with former teammate he helped mentor SF Jimmy Butler. 3) Noah doesn't have to take a buyout settlement to get out of his situation in New York

For the Minnesota T'Wolves this deal works for several reasons also. 1) Timberwolves Head Coach Tom Thibodeau would love the opportunity to have the defensive anchor in Noah lead his young super talented T'Wolves into the playoffs. 2) Noah compliments what the Wolves have in place very well. Noah is a great passing bigman that is an elite rebounder and defensive player. Noah would help on offense while not taking away any shots from the Wolves star players while enchancing their defense tremendously. 3) Noah would allow young Wolves star Karl Anthony-Towns to play his natural position of PF over playing against Centers.

For the New York Knicks this deal works for several reasons also in my opinion. 1) This allows the Knicks to shed a major salary and long-term financial commitment. The Knicks would also be able to rid themselves of the contract without giving up a 1^st Round pick or a young potential piece. 2) With the recent flair up between Joakim Noah and Head Coach Jeff Hornacek, a move of Noah could reaffirm the organization's commitment to Hornacek as the leader and the main voice of the team. 3) In this deal the Knicks would acquire a young Small Forward Shabazz Muhammad with great potential and a game much like Knicks current SF Michael Beasley. It's possible Muhammad can be mentored by Beasley and find his potential playing in New York under the Hornacek offensive system.

Courtney Lee to the Detroit Pistons

New York Receives

SF Stanley Johnson

G Langston Galloway

Detroit Receives

SG Courtney Lee

TrueFan Take:

I believe this trade has a high chance of happening and has a high chance of being a great trade for both sides. I'll give a few reasons why I feel this could be a great deal for not only the Knicks but the Detroit Pistons and Courtney Lee. 1) This trade would allow a team in the Pistons who after making a blockbuster deal for Star PF Blake Griffin; the Pistons could use another floor spreader and veteran perimeter player like SG Courtney Lee. Not only that but Courtney Lee's first year in the NBA and only trip to the NBA finals came with current Detroit Pistons Head Coach Stan Van Gundy in Orlando. It would make for another great reunion. 2) With Courtney Lee being 32 years old, his age doesn't match the Knicks current timeline. 3) In Stanley Johnson the Knicks could possible get the last piece to complete their core youth rebuild. Johnson as a young pudding two-way player could develop well in New York along side Porzingis, Hardaway, Ntilikina, and Hernangomez/Kanter.

Kyle O'Quinn goes to Golden State

New York Receives

PF Jordan Bell

SF Omar Casspi

C Javale McGee

Golden State Receives

PF/C Kyle O'Quinn

TrueFan Take:

This is a good trade that the Knicks could make to add young talent. For the Knicks it allows them to trade Kyle O'Quinn to get value back and to allow minutes to become avaliable for Knicks young Center prospect in Willy Hernangomez. In a player like PF Jordan Bell, Bell could provide much of what O'uinn does for the Knicks in bring energy and great interior defensive ability off the bench for the Knicks, and being only 23 years old, could be for years to come. For the Golden State Warriors O'Quinn fills their Center position as well as former Warrior great C Andrew Bogut played for them several seasons ago in the same system.

Alert: C Willy Hernangomez

Willy Hernangomez goes to Boston

New York Receives

PF Daniel Theis

2018 1^st Round Pick

Boston Receives

C Willy Hernangomez

TrueFan Take:

In this later coming together trade the Knicks trade their young Center because Enes Kanter looks like he might of locked down the Knicks starting Center position down for the long-term future. The inspiring and great play out of the 25 Year Old former 3 overall pick in Enes Kanter has made him a potential long term piece for the New York Knicks. But that result has come at the expense of 2017 All-Rookie 1^st Team C Willy Hernangomez. In light of Hernangomez not getting time to play, he has requested to play or be moved to a situation where he can play. In this particular trade the Knicks made a deal with the Boston Celtics, who have already shown interest in Hernangomez and the Knicks receive and nice piece in international prospect PF Daniel Theis and a excellent draft asset in a 2018 1^st Round Pick.

Head Coach Hornacek

As we approach the end of the NBA's first half of the season with the all-star break we start to see teams making significant changes as their pre-season hopes have faded. Likewise here in New York the fans are beginning to clamor for changes as the Knicks currently sit outside the playoffs in the NBA standings. The change I see most fans preaching for is at Head Coach. That's where I see the same problem the Knicks have had for the past 30 years in New York City: Patience. Patience. Patience.

On that note let's start with the expectations this New York Knicks team had coming into the 2017-18 NBA campaign. ESPN with Carmelo predicted the Knicks would finish with 32 wins this season. Sports Illustrated predicted the same Knicks team with Carmelo Anthony would only win approximately 30.5 wins. CBS Sports predicted the Knicks also with Carmelo Anthony would only win 26 wins and the most notable was Las Vegas betting had the Knicks this season winning the most with Carmelo Anthony, at 34.5 wins. The only thing about these predictions and these actually Knicks this season is the 2017-18 Knicks are missing 17 Points and 6 Rebounds a game from said star SF Carmelo Anthony this year. That's a major point many fans are not taking into account, the Jeff Hornacek lead Knicks were not expected to win even 34 games with their star player, so how could we expect him to make a playoff push with a roster without their in-house Franchise Player?

But let's look further into the season the Knicks are having under Head Coach Jeff Hornacek. Let's look at some stats through 50 games this season under Hornacek's leadership.

On Offense:

Offensive Rating: 108.1(13^th Best in NBA)

Pace: 96.2 ( 19^th in NBA)

Field Goal % Percentage: Rank 7^th

3-Point % Percentage: Rank 8^th

2-Point Field Goals Made : Rank 2^nd

2-Point Field Goals Attempted : Rank 1^st

Free Throw Attempts Per Game : Rank 21^st

Free Throw % Percentage : Rank T-5^th

Offensive Rebounds : Rank 8^th

Assists Per Game : Rank 10^th

Points Per Game : Rank 18^th

Offensive Rating : Rank 13^th

Effective Field Goal % Percentage : Rank 14^th

Turnover Percentage : Rank 23^rd

Turnovers Per Game: Rank 22^nd

Offensive Rebound % Percentage : Rank 5^th

On Defense:

Defensive Rating: 109.2( 21^st in NBA)

Opponent Field Goal Per Game: Rank 13^th

Opponent Field Goal % Percentage: Rank 7^th

Opponent 3-Point Field Goals Made: Rank 25^th

Opponent 3-Point % Percentage: Rank 15^th

Opponent Free Throw Attempts: Rank 21^st

Opponent Turnovers: Rank 25^th

Opponent Points Per Game: Rank 17^th

Team Defensive Rebounds Per Game: Rank 13^th

Team Steals Per Game: Rank 27^th

Team Blocks Per Game: Rank 4^th

Team Personal Fouls Per Game: Rank 23^rd

Those statistics paint the picture of how the 2017-18 New York Knicks have relatively performed under Jeff Hornacek's leadership this season. But the point here is to based those numbers off of what we could of reasonably expected from this team coming into the season. With Jarrett Jack at starting point guard, who has played a solid and admirable game this season for the Knicks, but at his age and stage of his career the Knicks are playing from a disadvantage every night at the most pivotal position in today's NBA of the Point Guard Position. In the 2018 NBA the majority of top tier players are from the backcourt position whether Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, James Harden, John Wall, or Kemba Walker. Add in the Knicks and Hornacek are trying to patiently develop at that Point Guard spot 2017 8^th overall pick Frank Ntilikina. At 19 years of age Frank is not only one of the 2 or 3 youngest players in the NBA, Frank is from another country and culture as a young man trying to grow up and adjust to different living. Ntilikina has already shown elite defensive skills but his youth continues to be on display as he finds his way on the offensive side of the ball. At that position of Point Guard, it usually takes draft picks a while to find their way at that position for all the responsibilities that come with maintaining that role. We also see the struggles of other lottery point guard selection who have lesser of a cultural learning curve in Dallas Mavericks Point PG Dennis Smith Jr and Sacramento Kings PG De'Aaron Fox. I feel Hornacek and the Knicks coaching staff has done a great job of patiently developing Frank Ntilikina while giving the Knicks a chance to compete with veteran Jack runing the show. To the stats, this dilemma is why the Knicks struggle to get into the paint and get free throws( 21^st in Free Throw attempts per game) and don't get a lot of dribble paint penetration to kick outs for many 3-Point Shots( 30^th in 3-Point Attempts). The offensive struggles of Jack and Ntilikina also show in the Knicks turnover problems( 22^nd in TO/Per Game and 23^rd in Turnover % Percentage).

On to why many fans really feel Hornacek should be let go. The Knicks are clearly in a postion of a rebuild and many fans wonder why a Jarret Jack or Courtney Lee could still be playing the majority of minutes when Knicks fans want to see the younger players play and develop like Frank Ntilikina, Doug McDermott, Trey Burke, or Damyean Dotson. To that the answer is simple, “ Developing a Culture”. With any team or organization, they have to have a way of doing business, and in the NBA they have to have a way of playing that is recognized by all others. Jeff Hornacek comes from a simple philosophy like Phil Jackson and is why Jackson hired him. If we look back at Hornacek when he first was hired by the Phoenix Suns to when he first was hired with the Knicks he has stated his basketball principles over and over. Heornacek, like Phil Jackson believe that basketball is won from aggressive defensive and a attacking offense. I here fans saying we need a coach more like Boston's Brad Stevens. I hate to tell those fans this but Stevens doesn't or didn't have nearly the credentials or cadence that Hornacek's has or had already proven at this point in their respective careers. For 1) Hornacek first year as a head coach he won 48 games coaching a Phoenix Suns team that was predicted win only 19 games that year. Whereas Stevens first season in Boston he won only 25 games for a Boston roster that had won 41 games the year prior. 2) Stevens made his way through coaching at Butler university, whereas Hornacek paid his dues in the NBA as a assistant coach for 3 years.3) Hornacek is also one of the NBA's best shooters of all-time and played with legendary players and for legendary coaches in his 14-year playing career giving him experience and knowledge that Stevens cannot match. For fans who want Hornacek to be removed as head coach, that could be the same New York City mistake as we did with Coach Mike D'Antoni(2008-2012), Mike Woodson(2012-2014) and Larry Brown(2005-2006). If there is one thing the New York Knicks recent past tells us, whether with the Carmelo Anthony Den/NY Trade or with Patrick Ewing's NY Knick career we need to be patience and appreciate what we have.

Tank or Playoff Push

For the Knicks and their fans the last great debate currently is whether the Knicks should push for the playoffs and play toward meaningful basketball or should the Knicks be sellers at the trade deadline and look toward the 2018 NBA Draft lottery. To those that only see it as one way or the other I say the Knicks should only be focused on making a playoff run.

The Knicks came into this season with the goals of developing young Franchise player Kristaps Porzingis and finding players that can play alongside of Porzingis for the long-term. So at this point I must say the Knicks have been very successful this season. Porzingis is having a career year and is a first year all-star while becoming the featured player of the Knicks this year with the departure of Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks as of February 5^th, are currently in 11^th place and 4 games back of the 8^th and final playoff spot. The Knicks do have an golden opportunity if they gain some winning momentum of securing a spot in the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. The Knicks have had streches of good basketball but have suffered over the last 6 weeks or so. I believe the main reason the Knicks can make the playoffs is the Tim Hardaway Jr Affect. The Knicks 2017 off-season biggest signing in Tim Hardaway Jr was a major reason for the Knicks early success and then with his injury and absence their recent struggles. The Knicks with Tim Hardaway in the first 21 Games the Knicks posted a record of 11 wins and 10 losses, posting 10 home wins for best in the NBA and with a +4.2 Offensive Rating with Hardaway on the court. With a healthy Tim Hardaway Jr, I believe the Knicks will again play like a top 8 Eastern Conference team. The reason I believe making the playoffs is a great thing for this Knicks team, it would give this rebuild a great start by making the playoffs year 1 in the Young Porzingis era. And from the prospective of the Porzingis postseason timeline from getting out the 1^st round to the 2^nd round to eventually making a NBA finals would have gotten off to a fast start this season. Even for young Franchise Point Guard Frank Ntilikina it would be a supreme building chip and of great value for him to gain playoff experience in just his rookie season. For Knicks fans it would be the first playoff appearance in a almost 5 years.

But the most important objective for the Knicks is merely developing their young talent and their basketball culture. So by just competing over the next two months for the playoffs and not making the playoffs would serve equally valuable for such a young rebuilding team. Many Knicks fans believe that because the Knicks are developing their young talent however that means Head Coach Jeff Hornacek's Rotations should reflect that. That's where I disagree. As fans we hardly see what the coaches see every day at practice and hardly know what management true goals and objectives for the team are. We also minimize our questioning the great coaches or successful coaches on questionable dividing of playing minutes and rotation decision's. We as fans have to let Jeff Hornacek's have our support while he develops a team that is plays like he did for his 14 year NBA career. Hornacek's resume should give him I believe at least 3 seasons before we start questioning his job status and ability.

But I do feel the New York Knicks rotations will look quite different after the trade deadline and after the NBA All-Star break. I feel the position we will see the greatest difference will be with the Point Guard role. While Jarret Jack has served admirably this season, I believe after the all-star break the Knicks and Jeff Hornacek will most likely turn over the starting keys to the Knicks to Frank Ntilikina. I believe the Knicks have a good problem of point guard depth that will show itself worthy in the coming couple months. I believe Nitlikina will start and minutes will increase to around 30 minutes a game. While I believe Trey Burke will also have a bigger role, assuming more of a 6^th man role and playing in tandem with Ntilikina for long stretches. I believe Burke can add significant punch to the offense like how Hornacek had Isaiah Thomas with the Phoenix Suns off the bench. I can picture Trey Burke playing minutes more like what Doug McDermott plays now at around 20 to 22 minutes a game and Jarret Jack taking more of a veteran spot minutes like Michael Beasley and his playing time dropping to around 16 to 18 minutes per game.

In addtition to the developing of the young Knicks team, the most important player's development over the next two months of the season will be Rookie Point Guard Frank Ntilikina. My comparison for Ntilikina coming into the draft was that of legendary defensive Point Guard Gary Payton. Like Payton, Ntilikina's defense is far more advanced than his offensive in his rookie season. And like Payton in his rookie season Ntilikina's numbers are very similar.

Gary Payton Rooke Season: 1990-91 Stats: 82 Games Played(82 Games Started), 27.4 Minutes Per Game, 13.2 PER(Player Efficiency Rating), 7.2 Points Per Game, 3.0 Rebounds Per Game, 6.4 Assists Per Game, 2.0 Steals Per Game, 0.2 Blocks Per Game, 2.2 Turnovers Per Game, 7.0 Field Goal Attempts Per Game, 0.2 3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per Game, .450% Field Goal Percentage, .077% 3-Point Percentage, .711% Free Throw Percentage

I believe in Ntilikina the Knicks have a player that can develop and become I believe a modern day combination of former Knicks Legend Walt “Cylde” Frazier and Sonics Legendary Point Guard Gary “The Glove” Payton. But like with most of this article the problem that the Knicks have, is patience. If the Knicks organization, the Knicks fans, and the New York Media can give this team some time and patience they can have two generational two-way players and a special team in 3 years.

As far as the remainder of this season, I believe for the Knicks wether they make the playoffs or not, they will have a great opportunity at season's end in the 2018 NBA draft to add another young legitimate piece to this rebuild. I believe the Knicks roster will shake up a little bit after the trade deadline and then for the next two months we will see how the Knicks shape their future around their two young cornerstones in PF Kristaps “Unicorn” Porzingis and PG Frank “French Prince” Ntilikina.