The contracts have been officially signed. It’s time to take a look at the starting lineup for the 2016-17 New York Knicks.
With his back against the ropes, team president Phil Jackson came out with a flurry of jabs to keep the opposition at bay. He may not have thrown a knockout punch, but The Zen Master won over the judges with his performance.
After three consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs, the New York Knicks have finally built a roster with realistic postseason aspirations.
Jackson mixed caution with ambition during the summer of 2016, and what he produced was one of the best paper rosters New York has seen in quite some time. It may or may not be a championship contender, but the playoffs are now an expectation.
Though Knicks fans have long maintained a postseason or bust mentality, it’s been quite rare over the past 15 seasons that such a goal has been attainable.
With four postseason appearances over the past 15 years, there’s reason to be pessimistic. The new starting five should inspire hope and optimism in a fan base that hasn’t been given many reasons to embody such elusive traits.
The question is, who will form the 2016-17 starting lineup and why should Knicks fans be excited about it?
Next: Point Guard
Point Guard: Derrick Rose
Age: 27 (10/4/1988)
2015-16 Slash Line: .427/.293/.793
2015-16 Season Averages: 31.8 MPG, 16.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.4 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 3PM
Accolades: 2011 NBA MVP, 2011 All-NBA First Team, 3x All-Star
The single most significant upgrade made by Phil jackson and the New York Knicks can be found at point guard. Jose Calderon, Langston Galloway, and Jerian Grant played admirably in 2015-16, but New York needed a consistent No. 1 option at the position.
Though he may not be an MVP-caliber player anymore, Derrick Rose has the tools to fill the Knicks’ primary void.
Rose’s season averages were rather pedestrian in 2015-16, but they don’t tell the entire story. In 21 appearances after the 2016 All-Star Break, Rose averaged 17.4 points and 4.6 assists in 30.9 minutes on a slash line of .468/.375/.784.
If Rose can provide those numbers with that slash line, then the Knicks would have to call the point guard position a genuine strength.
It should also be noted that Rose spent an extended period of time in a protective mask that blurred his vision—a stretch during which he shot 35.7 percent from the field. In the 49 games that followed the removal of said mask, he averaged 17.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting.
In other words, if he can remain healthy, Rose should be able to provide the Knicks with an efficient 17 points per game—far better than Calderon’s 7.6 per contest.
Next: Shooting Guard
Shooting Guard: Courtney Lee
Age: 30 (10/3/1985)
2015-16 Slash Line: .454/.378/.839
2015-16 Season Averages: 29.5 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 3PM
Accolades: 2009 NBA Finals Appearance
When Arron Afflalo declined his player option, the New York Knicks began the search for a new starting shooting guard. The player whom New York signed, Courtney Lee, is quite similar to Afflalo from a stylistic perspective.
The primary difference that should have Knicks fans excited: Lee is a far more consistent defender who can get to the basket.
Lee was traded in 2015-16, but he helped both of the teams he played for. The Charlotte Hornets posted an offensive rating of 111.4 with him and 104.1 without him, and the Memphis Grizzlies had a defensive rating of 102.1 with Lee and 107.4 without him.
In other words, Lee is an adaptable player who can fill the role that’s outlined for him and help his team on both ends.
Offensively, Lee should complement Derrick Rose well, as evidenced by his catch-and-shoot 3-point field goal percentage of 40.3 in 2015-16. Defensively, he held opponents to 41.8 percent shooting from the field.
Lee fits the profile of what Phil Jackson seems to want from his shooting guards, and has the skill set to be the perfect backcourt complement to Rose.
Next: Small Forward
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony
Age: 32 (5/29/1984)
2015-16 Slash Line: .434/.339/.829
2015-16 Season Averages: 35.1 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 3PM
Accolades: 2x All-NBA Second Team, 4x All-NBA Third Team, 9x All-Star, 2013 Scoring Title
As one of two returning starters, Carmelo Anthony provides the foundation for the New York Knicks’ immediate success. He’s the face of the franchise, a surefire Hall of Famer, and one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
In 2016-17, Anthony will be tasked with getting back to what’s made him one of the most respected players of this generation.
Anthony was rather inefficient in 2015-16, but that can be chalked up to his recovery from 2015 knee surgery. He didn’t get his legs back under him until the second half of the season, when he began to play like himself again.
After averaging 21.4 points on a slash line of .426/.327/.820 before the All-Star Break, Anthony averaged 22.8 points on marks of .449/.360/.852 after it.
Under head coach Jeff Hornacek, Anthony should be able to score with superior efficiency. He’ll score in transition, which he had minimal opportunities to do in 2015-16, and projects to flourish in a motion offense.
With a full offseason and the Olympics to work out and train, Anthony should come back with a vengeance in 2016-17.
Next: Power Forward
Power Forward: Kristaps Porzingis
Age: 20 (8/2/1995)
2015-16 Slash Line: .421/.333/.838
2015-16 Season Averages: 28.4 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.8 ORPG, 1.3 APG, 1.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.1 3PM
Accolades: 2016 All-Rookie First Team
This past season, Kristaps Porzingis joined Karl-Anthony Towns as the only players to be unanimously selected to the 2016 All-Rookie First Team. It was an appropriate honor for a first-player who captivated the masses throughout the 2015-16 season.
Beyond the flash and excitement was substance, as Porzingis established himself as a true force to be reckoned with.
In 2015-16, Porzingis became the first rookie in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 3-point field goals. That alone should offer insight into how great of a player Porzingis could become.
For perspective, the only non-rookies who recorded at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 3-point field goals in 2015-16 were Draymond Green and Al Horford.
Porzingis also ranked No. 8 in the NBA and No. 1 amongst rookies in blocks per game. At 7’3″ with a 7’6″ wingspan, it’s not very difficult to understand why he’s so effective as an all-around defensive player and rim protector.
If Porzingis makes the progress that many are expecting to see from him, he should have another sensational year in 2016-17.
Next: Center
Center: Joakim Noah
Age: 31 (2/25/1985)
2015-16 Slash Line: .383/.000/.489
2015-16 Season Averages: 21.9 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.0 ORPG, 3.8 APG, 1.0 BPG, 0.6 SPG
Accolades: 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, 2014 All-NBA First Team, 2x All-Star, 2x All-Defensive First Team, 2011 All-Defensive Second Team
Mere days into his tenure with the New York Knicks, Joakim Noah has already become a fan favorite. Having grown up in New York as a Knicks fan himself, Noah has been unfiltered in expressing his excitement to don the orange and blue.
When asked what it means to him to play for the Knicks, Noah provided a quote that fans have already come to love: “I’m ready to be an animal for this city.”
"New York is very special to me. This is where I grew up. I’ve been a Knicks fan my whole life, so this jersey means everything to me. I’m ready to be an animal for this city."
That’s a fair bit of insight into what Noah will provide the Knicks with.
Noah, who won the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year award, is a relentless defender and vocal leader. He’ll keep his teammates motivated and his opponents frustrated, much like the beloved Knicks big men of the 1990s.
Noah’s physicality and toughness also fall in line with the Knicks big men of the 1990s.
Offensively, Noah is one of the best passers in the history of his position. In 2013-14, he became the first center to average at least 5.0 assists since Vlade Divac in 2003-04 and Sam Lacey in 1979-80.
For a team that already has Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis in the frontcourt, adding Noah to the mix could prove to be a brilliant move.
Next: Sixth Man
Sixth Man: Brandon Jennings
Age: 26 (9/23/1989)
2015-16 Slash Line: .368/.329/.731
2015-16 Season Averages: 18.1 MPG, 6.9 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.1 3PM
Accolades: 2010 All-Rookie First Team
Before you overreact to Brandon Jennings’ slash line and production, understand that he made a miraculous recovery from a ruptured achilles tendon. Despite suffering the injury in January of 2015, he was back on the court by the end of December that same year.
Thus, while Jennings’ 2015-16 season may have been underwhelming, merely playing 48 games was significant progress.
With half a season behind him, Jennings is ready to elevate the intensity of his recovery process to entirely new heights. He’ll actually have a full offseason to train and work out, which is a luxury he wasn’t afforded in 2015.
For what it’s worth, Jennings averaged 16.6 points, 6.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.9 3-point field goals made over the first six seasons of his career.
In 2016-17, Jennings will play the role of sixth man—a role he’s entirely ready to embrace. Team president Phil Jackson challenged him to win Sixth Man of the Year, and Jennings has accepted the challenge.
The road to recovery and redemption has brought Jennings to New York, where he’ll play a critical role in 2016-17.
must read: Reasons to love the Brandon Jennings signing
Having seen the starting lineup, hit the comments section and give us your projected win total for the 2016-17 New York Knicks!