With the trade deadline behind us and Kristaps Porzingis out for the season, the following members of the New York Knicks need more playing time.
The New York Knicks have all but officially resigned to the belief that the postseason is no longer a possibility. It’s plausible that New York’s recent transactions imply otherwise, but with the loss of Kristaps Porzingis to a season-ending knee injury, it appears as though the rebuild is on.
As the Knicks enter a post-Porzingis existence in 2017-18, a new opportunity has been presented—one that could favor the long-term rebuild.
Losing Porzingis is nothing short of devastating, but his injury has provided the Knicks with a unique chance to build for the future. With the postseason out of the question, head coach Jeff Hornaek can test how the other 25-and-under players on the roster fit into the long-term vision.
While attention has inevitably shifted to the 2018 NBA Draft, there are players on the roster who could be of similar aid to the long-term rebuild.
The Knicks have a significant number of up-and-coming players on the current roster. Not all should receive an increase in playing time, but New York would benefit from providing a select few individuals with that opportunity moving forward.
The question is: Which members of the New York Knicks should receive more minutes with the trade deadline behind us and Kristaps Porzingis out for the season?