2016-17 was another disappointing season for the New York Knicks, to say the least. While the additions of Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee provided an immediate spark to the team, that success quickly faded off once the season was about one-third of the way through. Now, with four straight seasons of missing the playoffs, the Knicks face several obstacles as they attempt to return to a relevant state.
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| Jeff Hornacek's team may look very different next year |
The Good
Emergence of Youth
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| Hernangomez (right) caught the eyes of Knicks fans |
Perhaps the most noteworthy positive to takeaway from the 2016-17 squad was the collection of young, projectable players that could become key pieces in the long-term future. Willy Hernangomez, a second-round pick in 2015 by Philadelphia, had himself quite a season, notching 8.2 PPG and 7.0 REB in 18.4 minutes per game. The 22-year old managed to earn a roster spot in the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge, and was recently named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. Other names to include are Ron Baker, a 24-year old guard out of Wichita State, and Chasson Randle, who had signed a multi-year pact with New York this past May.
Improvement of Kristaps Porzingis
- Porzingis is the future of the New York Knicks, and his continued success development is crucial to the franchise. Despite some bumps and bruises along the way, his 2016-17 season should be seen as a sign in the right direction by the Knicks faithful. The 21-year old put up 18.1 PPG and 7.2 REB while shooting 35% from three-point range. For comparison, his rookie season saw him putting up 14.3 PPG and 7.3 REB while shooting 33% from downtown. Still very raw, Porzingis has room to grow, particularly with his defense and overall interior game, but he figures to be a mainstay in the starting rotation for years to come.
The Bad
Poor Defense
- Joakim Noah was brought into the squad last summer to help fortify the defensive unit, but he failed to live up to expectations, to say the least. For whatever reason, the Knicks as a whole had posted terrible numbers on the defensive end. They ranked 23rd in the NBA in points allowed per game, and let opponents shoot 35% from three point range. To make matters worse, the team ranked 22nd in number of opponent free throw attempts, meaning that they could not control the interior game from attacking players. While it is unfair to blame one particular player, this weakness could definitely align with Jeff Hornacek and Kurt Rambis, both of whom failed to improve the overall lack of defensive effort.
Lack of Movement at the Trade Deadline
- The Knicks were "this" close to acquiring point guard Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Derrick Rose, but the deal fell through minutes before the deadline. GM Phil Jackson failed to make any moves at the trade deadline, leading to a lack of direction from players and fans alike. Many did not realistically expect the Knicks to get-out under Carmelo Anthony's contract, but were surprised to see players such as Rose, Courtney Lee, and Kyle O'Quinn on the roster during the second-half. Jackson's lack of activity has cast a cloud of uncertainty across the entire Knicks franchise.
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| Jackson (pictured) did not let go of any of his trade chips |
- You know the saying "it's not about how you start, it's about how you finish." Well, for Derrick Rose, things could not have gone worse. Despite finishing with a solid 18.0 PPG and 4.4 AST in 64 games, the 28-year will enter free agency recovering from a torn meniscus that had been suffered in early-April. As his fourth knee surgery, Rose's latest issue may scare away a few potential suitors, including the Knicks. While the above-average talent is still there, Rose's MVP days appear to be long-behind and he would be fortunate to receive a multi-year contract this summer.
The Ugly
Where do I even begin?
Carmelo v. Phil
- The New York media slammed Carmelo Anthony all-season while Phil Jackson hid in the shadows. However, Jackson recently made some questionable comments during his exit interviews that boosted the drama between he and his star player. To keep it brief, Jackson said that the All-Star forward would be "better off somewhere else," citing that Anthony had failed to fit in with the current direction of the team. Now, is Jackson wrong? Probably not. However, his comments were premature and have even led to involvement by the NBA Player's Union. Regardless of how you feel about Anthony and Jackson, most fans would agree that this continued drama has dragged the team to all-time lows in terms of their image and perception around the league.
The Charles Oakley Incident
- As a hard-nosed forward from the 1990's, Charles Oakley earned a strong reputation from the New York organization and fan-base. However, in February, the 53-year old was involved in an altercation at Madison Square Garden and was subsequently ejected and arrested. He was alleged to have yelled at Knicks owner James Dolan, and was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and criminal trespassing. This situation was the talk of the town for several weeks and still remains relatively delicate between both sides. Naturally, almost every Knicks fan sided with their beloved New York star, and Dolan's image continued to crumble as a result. While the incident did not directly involve the players on the court, one has to think that they were negatively impacted in some capacity by the lack of respect and tremendous distraction.
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| Oakley (pictured) was ejected (and temporarily banned) from MSG in February |
Joakim Noah's Contract
- Fans have loathed the Joakim Noah signing since day one, and rightfully so, as the 32-year old could go down as the worst contract in the franchise's history. In 2016-17, Noah put up 5.0 PPG and 8.7 REB in 22.1 minutes per game, receiving a grand total of $17 million in the process. To worsen the problem, he was suspended for 20 games for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a period that carries over into next year. Finally, as a kicker, it was announced that the veteran would require surgery for a torn rotator cuff, sidelining him for four-to-six months. So, with three years and $55 million remaining on his deal, the Knicks are financially strapped to make any game-changing transactions. Unfortunately it appears that they will have to just eat out the contract and hope that Noah can provide *something* over the next three years to justify the hefty paychecks.
Conclusion
- It is very difficult to defend the Knicks recent activity, but the only thing that we can hope for is a sense of direction given by Phil Jackson. With two more seasons with New York and overwhelming support from James Dolan, this will continue to be Jackson's team to toy around with. As Knicks fans, we just have to hope that the drama comes to a screeching halt and that Jackson makes good use of his lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
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