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New York Knicks: Predicting the starting lineup by season’s end

By Jayson Kleinman

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Kevin Knox #20 and RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks hi-five on July 13, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Kevin Knox #20 and RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks hi-five on July 13, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the start of the New York Knicks’ 2019-2020 season on Oct. 23rd, a clear sense of which players will find themselves in the starting five on opening night has yet to come to light. But as important as who will start that opening game is which players will establish themselves as starters by the end.

The 2019-2020 New York Knicks roster has raised many questions as to the identity of the new-look Knicks. With an interesting mix of young prospects and veterans vying for minutes, and all indications that the competition for roster spots has already begun, who will be in the starting lineup when the season opens on Oct. 23 against the San Antonio Spurs is still up in the air.

But with a crucial season of development ahead for one of the youngest teams in the NBA, perhaps more important than the players starting the first game of the season are those who will be starting the last.

Looking at the Knicks roster going into the start of the 2019-2020 season, there are not many positions where there is a guaranteed starter on the roster to begin the season. Still, there are a few educated guesses that could be made about this team:

  1. Barring any injuries or signs of regressing wildly in the preseason, Mitchell Robinson starts at the Center from Day 1.
  2. Similar to Robinson, unless Julius Randle gets injured or either Bobby Portis or Kevin Knox shows to be the best pairing with Robinson in the front court, Randle projects to be the best player on the team heading into the season and most likely starts at Power Forward from Day 1.
  3. Despite Frank Ntilikina‘s impressive FIBA World Cup and Alan Hahn’s endorsement, RJ Barrett is the most exciting player on the roster and should see time in the starting 5 immediately, to see if he can be a player to build the future around.

RJ Barrett may prove to be the X-factor in determining the starting five to begin the season, namely where head coach David Fizdale plays him. If he starts at the shooting guard, does Elfrid Payton start alongside him at point guard to provide some defensive and creative support? If so, does Knox start at the small forward and the team hopes he can string together a better sophomore season than his rookie campaign?

To start the season, general manager Scott Perry and Fizdale may each flex some creative control and insert their pet project players into the starting five, leaving the following lineup to open against the Spurs:

  • Point Guard: Elfrid Payton
  • Shooting Guard: RJ Barrett
  • Small Forward: Kevin Knox
  • Power Forward: Julius Randle
  • Center: Mitchell Robinson

But will these players establish themselves as the best lineup for the Knicks? Or will changes be made throughout the season as certain players on the roster breakout?

The guard positions may be where the Knicks see the biggest shakeup, where the Knicks currently have nine players on the roster vying for minutes. If pre-season rumors are to be believed, this year may be a breakout season for Dennis Smith Jr. 

While Smith Jr. may not make a leap straight to an All-Star level, small improvements across his game could see Smith Jr. establish himself as a building block for this young team. Small improvements to his jump shot so that defenders have to be wary of his outside shooting in off-ball situations could go along way in opening up the offense for the rest of the team. Similarly, if Smith can avoid dribbling into double teams and passing out when he draws in defenders, we could see his assist total jump past his already respectable 5 per game into the top percentile of guards.

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With Smith breaking into the starting point guard slot, this unfortunately may mean the dismissal of Kevin Knox from the starting lineup. With Smith and Barrett theoretically taking up the majority of ball handling and creating duties on offense, the idea of both of them starting in the backcourt with Knox at the small forward could be a spacing nightmare for the offense.

While the Knicks most likely hope Knox will improve on his 37 percent shooting from the field last season, he’ll probably have a lot less leeway to work through his shooting woes in his second year than RJ will as a rookie.

So with DSJ and RJ starting together, that may see Damyean Dotson making a return to the starting lineup. Dotson started a career-high 40 games last season, and throughout showed an ability to play effectively off-ball and be a pest on defense.

While Dotson is not exactly a lights out shooter, shooting around 36 percent from 3-point range last season, he has shown that when he gets hot, he can be a real threat from outside and really stretch the floor. With a tangible deep-threat like Dotson (or even Wayne Ellington, though he my have been traded by the end of the season), the offense will open up for DSJ and RJ to drive the lanes and create on offense.

By end of season, the Knicks starting lineup could look something like the following:

  • Point Guard: Dennis Smith Jr.
  • Shooting Guard: Damyean Dotson
  • Small Forward: RJ Barrett
  • Power Forward: Julius Randle
  • Center: Mitchell Robinson

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Who do you think will establish themselves as a starter by the end of season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or feel free to reach out on social media.

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