New York Knicks: Who is the 2018 preseason most important for?

1. Emmanuel Mudiay

Frank Ntilikina and Trey Burke both have something to prove in the preseason, but it’s arguably most important for Emmanuel Mudiay, who joined the New York Knicks in a midseason trade and underwhelmed in 22 games.

Mudiay entered training camp trimmed down and ready to impress after three disappointing NBA seasons. The first two and a half happened with the Denver Nuggets, where he lost the starting point guard role to Jamal Murray and averaged fewer than 20 minutes per game before the trade.

Now, in a make-or-break fourth season, Mudiay must show the ability to handle a backup role, let alone start for the Knicks. His 36.8 shooting percentage and 19.8 mark from three-point range were not indicators of this, and with the NBA’s emphasis on the perimeter, it’s time to adapt.

In competition with Burke and Ntilikina at point guard, Mudiay may find himself as the third option, unless he showcases improvement in the preseason. Will he receive enough minutes to do this, and how will Fizdale utilize the 22-year-old guard?

If Mudiay underperforms, it won’t cause a roster removal yet, due to a $4.29 million salary owed in 2018-19. However, to not make this a conversation, it starts with positive preseason play that forces the staff to utilize him in dual point-guard sets and as the main distributor in other situations.