Assembling The 2016-2017 Knicks Dream Team

POINT GUARDS

Tony Wroten

Point guard is arguably the largest need for the New York Knicks, and they are deciding to roll the dice on this need. Tony Wroten is the biggest risk currently on the roster. The Knicks, towards the end of last season, signed the guard to a two-year contract.

He has yet to step on the court as a Knicks player. He’s had two major ACL surgeries on his right knee, and is only 23 years old. Wroten is still rehabbing and expected to play in the Knicks’ Summer League.

When healthy, Wroten has shown glimpses of what he can do.

In his best season, Wroten was averaging 16.9 points and 5.2 assists per game. It’s hard to believe Wroten was doing this with knee problems.

Wroten’s Seattle mentor, Will Conroy, gave him a ringing endorsement, per Marc Berman of The New York Post:

"“He’s got his explosiveness back,” Conroy told the Post. “He’s a top-20 talent. If he puts it all together, the Knicks have gotten a steal. He can really get into the lane and finish over the top. He just doesn’t have the same pull-up jumper as Russell Westbrook, but he’s got similar explosion.”"

Wroten’s former coach, Brett Brown, had the following to say in the same Post article:

"“We were always trying to grow his perimeter game, but he had a downhill mentality that really at times was jaw-dropping,” Brown said. “With his size and athleticism, there was a wow factor. He was a little mini LeBron [James] playing downhill attacking the basket.”"

Don’t worry about Wroten’s jumpshot. He’s been practicing with legendary Knicks shooter Allan Houston.

At the end of the day, this is still a gamble for the Knicks. The good thing is, it’s a low-risk, high-reward gamble since Wroten is signed to a small non-guaranteed contract. Phil Jackson is hoping his gamble pays off and that he doesn’t roll a snake eyes with Wroten.

Jerian Grant

Phil Jackson traded Tim Hardaway Jr. last June for the 19th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and selected Jerian Grant out of Notre Dame. This was the same Grant who led the Fighting Irish to a 32-6 record, an ACC Tournament Championship, and a loss in the Elite 8 to an undefeated Kentucky team by just 2 points in 2014-2015.

Yet another Knicks player with high expectations, Grant struggled in his first year with the Knickerbockers, averaging only 5.6 points per game and shooting a horrible .220 from beyond the arc.

However, at the end of the season Grant began to turn over a new leaf.

Now that Jeff Hornacek has come to town, Grant will be participating in a style of play he excels at. And like Wroten, he’s been practicing his shot. Who’s the best shooter in the NBA right now? Obviously the current two-time MVP Steph Curry. Who does Steph Curry resemble the most? Well according to Phil Jackson its Chris Jackson/Mahmoud Adul-Rauf.

Jackson elaborated:

Seriously, how’s it “goink”? It’s “goink” well enough that Grant has been practicing with Adul-Rauf.

For the 2016-2017 season, Wroten and Grant, and Whitehead as needed, should be the point guards for the Knicks. None of these players will be making a ton of money next season. If the Wroten experiment fails, Grant and Whitehead will continue to grow and the Knicks will have cap space to pursue a better point guard in 2017-2018.

The last thing Carmelo Anthony will want to hear is “next year”, but with these upgrades he will most likely want to stick it out as a Knick. And the Knicks will be in position to be a contender in the Eastern Conference.

must read: Glue guys whom the Knicks can find in free agency

This Knicks’ “Dream Team” maybe a long shot, but it’s one that isn’t completely out of reach. It’s also one that would bring pleasing results.