2. Starting lineup goes full-blown “developmental”
2018-19 was labeled “developmental” from the start for the New York Knicks. They hired a new coach, embraced a slow trajectory for their youth and refused to include assets in trades, unlike the past.
On the court, the results have followed a typical rebuild: consistent losing. Always expected, no matter which group of players took the floor.
Head coach David Fizdale has tinkered with the starting lineups on multiple occasions. Every active player received at least one chance to prove his worth, and Noah Vonleh and Tim Hardaway Jr. lead the way with 34 and 41 starts, respectively.
As the season wanes and the Knicks continue to lose games, will Fizdale make more drastic changes to the starting lineup? The furthest he can go is making this an all-out youth lineup.
Emmanuel Mudiay and Noah Vonleh stick in this scenario. Kevin Knox, as well. Luke Kornet‘s sustainability in the starting lineup may last for so long, and will it reach a point where Tim Hardaway Jr. moves to a sixth man role amid lengthy shooting struggles?
It would become Fizdale’s boldest move yet, but a lineup of Mudiay, Knox, Vonleh, Allonzo Trier and Mitchell Robinson fully embraces the idea of “developmental.” It leaves out Frank Ntilikina, given Mudiay and Vonleh’s respective success this season, but includes the majority of the team’s pieces to build around in 2019-20.
Will this lineup win many games? Probably not, but it’s almost as grand of a look at raw talent as possible and an interesting test for all involved.