New York Knicks: Five lineups to explore during closing weeks of 2017-18

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 23, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. New-Look Starting Lineup

G: Trey Burke
G: Frank Ntilikina
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF: Luke Kornet
C: Enes Kanter

Trey Burke has made it difficult to slot Frank Ntilikina in as the starting point guard of the future. Thankfully, the fact that Ntilikina looks so comfortable in an off-ball role certainly supports the belief that he could play the 2.

The question mark is if Tim Hardaway Jr. can thrive long-term at small forward, but this simulation of a starting lineup could provide some early answers.

With Burke, Ntilikina, and Hardaway in the backcourt, the Knicks would have three potential long-term assets developing alongside one another. Burke and Ntilikina can thrive in combo guard roles, which fits them due to the fact that both are capable of creating with and without the ball.

Hardaway’s defense as an undersized 3 will be the major question mark, but the Knicks could at least explore how well he’d play with the core players.

As previously established, Enes Kanter could walk in free agency or be replaced in the NBA Draft, but there’s a good chance that he re-signs. Luke Kornet won’t do everything that Kristaps Porzingis does, but he’s a 7’0″ sharpshooter who can protect the rim.

There’s no way to truly simulate Porzingis’ value, but this can give the Knicks a basic preview of what can be achieved with this unit.

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