The beginning and the end to the season have been disappointing, however there was loads to love in between.
The Knicks have been a stunning 47-35 and completed because the fifth seed within the Japanese Convention after beginning 10-13.
They received their first playoff spherical in a decade earlier than falling quick in six video games to the Warmth.
The Put up’s Zach Braziller breaks down the roster and every participant’s standing getting into an attention-grabbing offseason for coach Tom Thibodeau and Co.:
RJ Barrett
Contract: 4 years left at a complete of $107 million.
He adopted up an uneven common season lowlighted by the worst 3-point proportion of his profession (31.0) with a robust playoffs, proving that, sure, he must be a part of this core shifting ahead.
His good video games outnumbered his poor ones, even when he did wrestle mightily within the season-ending Recreation 6 loss to the Warmth.
Only a reminder: Barrett continues to be 22 years previous.
The arrow continues to be pointing upward on the high-character wing who responded to criticism in precisely the fitting manner: By letting his play do the speaking.
Jalen Brunson
Contract: Two assured years left at a complete of $51 million with a participant choice for 2025-26 price $26 million.
The Knicks now have a official star, one of many prime lead guards within the sport.
His common season was implausible, regardless of his All-Star Recreation and All-NBA snubs.
His postseason, changing into the primary Knick since Patrick Ewing in Could of 1990 to provide three straight 30-point video games within the playoffs, was even higher.
Now, they must construct round this accountable, team-first, egoless nearer who has modified all the things concerning the franchise in only one yr.
Evan Fournier
Contract: One assured yr left at $18.8 million and a membership choice for 2024-25 at $19 million.
As he advised reporters shortly after the Knicks’ season ended, “there’s no manner they’re going to maintain me.”
The sharpshooting wing was out of the rotation by mid-November, solely seeing significant minutes as a result of accidents.
Search for the Knicks to make use of his expiring contract in a commerce.
Quentin Grimes
Contract: Owed $2.4 million subsequent yr with a $4.3 million membership choice for 2024-25 after which he turns into a restricted free agent.
Strong, although not overwhelming, step ahead for the 3-and-D guard.
He grew to become a full-time starter and shot 38.6 % from 3-point vary in his second yr within the league.
However his energy is clearly on the opposite finish of the ground, the place he’s already a top quality defender.
If his offense can catch up, the Knicks actually have one thing within the 23-year-old, former first-round pick of Houston.
Josh Hart
Contract: Participant choice price $12.9 million.
The Knicks went 17-8 to shut out the common season following his addition, and he performed a serious function of their playoff collection win over the Cavaliers.
He match this workforce like a glove as a tenacious defender and ball-moving, extra-effort reserve.
A few of the warts started to point out in opposition to the Warmth, particularly his iffy perimeter shot, however count on Hart to return after he enters free company.
He’s a profitable participant who was simply requested to perform a little bit an excessive amount of in opposition to the Warmth.
Isaiah Hartenstein
Contract: One yr left at $8.2 million
After a gradual begin, he grew to become a significant a part of the Knicks’ robust second unit.
A top quality rim-protector and screener, the 7-footer was a serious asset within the workforce’s stunning opening-round win over the Cavaliers.
He adjusted properly to the Knicks utilizing him in another way than the Clippers — he had a lot much less time with the ball in his fingers as a secondary playmaker — and progressively earned the belief of the teaching employees.
Miles McBride
Contract: Crew choice for $1.8 million subsequent yr.
Proved himself as a helpful piece, significantly defensively, after getting a possibility to contribute from the bench.
He might by no means be greater than a backup level guard except his offense develops, however his team-best 107.3 defensive score through the common season was a significant component in Thibodeau sitting personal-favorite Derrick Rose in favor of McBride.
Immanuel Quickley
Contract: One yr left at $4.2 million earlier than changing into a restricted free agent
A breakout common season during which he was the Sixth Man of the Yr runner-up after posting career-highs in scoring (14.9), rebounds (4.2) and minutes (28.9) was considerably muted by a disappointing postseason.
The Knicks clearly missed the 23-year-old guard within the final three video games in opposition to the Warmth, when he was unavailable as a result of a sprained left ankle.
Anticipate them to attempt to lock up one among their greatest two-way gamers to a contract extension this summer time.
Julius Randle
Contract: Owed a complete of simply over $53 million the subsequent two years with a participant choice price $29.4 million in 2025-26.
It’s by no means easy with Randle, his positives and negatives blended collectively.
He was a focus of the Knicks’ greatest season in a decade, their lone All-Star and an All-NBA third workforce choice.
He adopted that up with a poor postseason during which he totaled 36 assists and 34 turnovers, and averaged simply 16.6 factors on 37.4 % taking pictures.
For a participant along with his current résumé, his contract is team-friendly. He will be moved, however the Knicks can have bother changing his manufacturing.
Mitchell Robinson
Contract: Three years left at a complete of $43 million.
The damage bug bit him once more, limiting Robinson to 59 regular-season video games, however he was a two-way difference-maker, probably the greatest offensive rebounders within the sport who produced a 7.3 NET Score (factors the Knicks have been higher than their opponent per 100 possessions when he was on the ground).
He was dominant within the opening-round collection win over the Cavaliers, overwhelming Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
There are nonetheless offensive limitations with Robinson that received’t go away, but when the worst factor you may say about him is that he’s not the Warmth’s Bam Adebayo, who is likely one of the premier large males within the sport, that’s not too shabby.
Derrick Rose
Contract: Crew choice price $15.6 million subsequent yr.
He was taken out of the rotation on Dec. 4, and by no means actually returned, serving as a mentor to the workforce’s younger guards.
The Knicks will virtually definitely decline his workforce choice, permitting him to be a free agent and discover a new residence to wrap up a superb profession.
Obi Toppin
Contract: One yr left at $6.8 million earlier than he turns into a restricted free agent.
It might be a shock to see the Knicks prolong the previous lottery decide.
He’s nonetheless extraordinarily restricted as a defender and shotmaker, and so long as Randle is right here, Toppin’s function isn’t going to vary.
A non-displaced fracture of his proper fibula head set him again, and he wound up producing much less — fewer factors, fewer rebounds, fewer assists in fewer minutes — than he did a yr in the past.
His 3-point shot did enhance, which was the perfect a part of an in any other case down season for him.
Jericho Sims
Contract: Due {a partially} assured $1.9 million subsequent yr with a workforce choice of $2.1 million in 2024-25.
The 58th decide within the 2021 draft has already exceeded expectations contemplating the place he was chosen.
He’s a helpful insurance coverage coverage at middle with room to develop on the offensive finish.
