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New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Noah Vonleh signing

By Maxwell Ogden

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 29: Noah Vonleh #30 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 29, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 29: Noah Vonleh #30 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 29, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – JUNE 26: Noah Vonleh addresses the media after being selected 9th overall by the Charlotte Hornets during the 2014 NBA Draft on June 26, 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK – JUNE 26: Noah Vonleh addresses the media after being selected 9th overall by the Charlotte Hornets during the 2014 NBA Draft on June 26, 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. A Culture Of Accountability

As previously alluded to, the New York Knicks now have eight former top-10 draft picks on the roster. Those players are Trey Burke, Mario Hezonja, Enes Kanter, Kevin Knox, Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Ntilikina, Kristaps Porzingis, and Noah Vonleh.

There’s no possible way to guarantee that all eight of those players will simultaneously realize their potential, but a culture of accountability has been created.

Every one of those players has faced some measure of adversity during their NBA careers. Knox may be the exception as an incoming rookie, but even he fell to No. 9 overall in a draft class that could be remembered as one that egregiously underrated him.

Even Porzingis is recovering from a torn ACL that has some questioning whether or not he’ll be able to return to the All-Star level he played at in 2017-18.

Knowing this to be true, head coach David Fizdale has been empowered in a remarkable way. He’s essentially working with basketball clay; supremely talented basketball players with youth on their side, but no reason for an ego considering their careers are in limbo.

If Vonleh and the rest of the former top-10 draft picks are willing to check their egos at the door, the Knicks could build something special.