Where Do The New York Knicks Go From Here?

The New York Knicks got better this NBA offseason. This should be indisputable. Signing Jalen Brunson represents a much-needed solution to the Knicks’ point guard issues, which date back over a decade.

Brunson, for all intents and purposes, should be the long-term playmaker for the next four years at the least, especially when taking into account the $104 million price tag that’s attached to him.

The Knicks are also in play to trade for Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell, presumably by forking over ever draft pick under the sun, emptying their cupboard of future flexibility.

And yet, even if they do manage to acquire Mitchell, one is still left wondering… where do they go from here?

Set ceiling

Going into the future with a Brunson/Mitchell is objectively a good thing, as those are two strong cards to play offensively. Brunson is a physically strong scorer with a surprisingly effective post game at 6’1, who is more of a slasher than a shooter, having connected on just 1.2 shots per game from the outside per game.

It thus makes sense to pair him with Mitchell, one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, who frequently launches 10+ three-pointers in a game, while also getting to the line a fair amount. Offensively speaking, that duo makes sense.

The issues lies with the rest of the roster, where it’s fair to wonder if Brunson and Mitchell will receive proper assistance.

Julius Randle is who he is at this point. A 6’9 supremely talented power forward who has yet to fully figure out how to use those talents, and mentally checks in and out of games depending on what his field goal percentage any given night. He’s basically a wild card on a $117 million contract, which seems not at all optimal given his desire to be a primary scoring option.

RJ Barrett, who may or may not be involved in any Mitchell trade, has shown progress, but not to the point where he’s considered close to stardom. He’s a shaky shooter, sports generally disappointing efficiency numbers, and would next to Brunson and Mitchell be used more as an off-ball player, which isn’t necessarily his strong suit.

(Of course, if he’s involved in a Mitchell trade, these concerns won’t matter as he’d be playing in Utah.)

Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein are the two centers who would set a ton of screens for their star backcourt, but neither are major floor spacers, having combined for a total of 14 made three-pointers (all by Hartenstein), making pick and pop options limited. That means a lot of diving towards the rim, and not much else, making New York’s pick and roll offense fairly predictable.

This is a long-winded way of saying the vast majority of the offensive responsibility will land on Brunson, Mitchell, and Randle. That should be enough firepower to take the Knicks into the playoffs every year, but it would seem optimistic to expect more than a second-round exit at best, unless Brunson pops and takes another significant leap.

(Trading Randle for pieces that complement a Brunson/Mitchell backcourt would be optimal, but Randle’s trade value isn’t exactly fantastic when you factor in his shaky production and long-term salary.)

Not much upside elsewhere

Some Knicks fans might point to both Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley as players who could take a leap in such a system, but it would seem unlikely that they aren’t included in the outgoing package for Mitchell. Even Quentin Grimes isn’t a lock to remain on the roster.

That leaves Jericho Sims, and Miles McBride, both of whom have some upside, but play at positions where they simply won’t get a lot of opportunities. The Knicks would have to shuffle them around for players more fitting to a Mitchell, Brunson and Randle trio, but that might be challenging given their modest salary compensation levels of $1.6 million and $1.5 million respectively, unless they’re packaged with Derrick Rose and his $14.2 million salary.

(With Tom Thibodeau helming the Knicks, any Rose trade might be off-limits, however.)

What to make of it

Assuming Mitchell lands with New York, there appears to limited championship upside, but that doesn’t mean the franchise wouldn’t be considerably more competitive and, frankly, more fun to watch.

Mitchell and Brunson would undoubtedly inject a ton of interest back into an otherwise stale franchise, and for a period of at least a half-decade, the Knicks would be relevant as a perennial playoff team.

Is that good enough? That’s a question for Knicks ownership and the front office to answer. For fans, it’s at least better than what they’ve been used to, and it’s a necessary break from being in the lottery every year, and never walking away with a superstar.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.