New York Knicks: 6 players who have smaller or lost roles from last season

Allonzo Trier

With the way Allonzo Trier played for the New York Knicks during their miserable 2018-19 season, he seemed poised for another major role off the bench. His 20-point games were some of the lone bright spots, and even with clunkers mixed in due to streaky scoring, he was a Fizdale favorite.

However, those 22.4 minutes per game as a rookie have come and gone, given Trier’s paltry 14.6 minutes mark through eight appearances, three of which were fewer than double digits.

Trier has actually not played since the Nov. 12 loss to the Chicago Bulls, marking four consecutive absences via coach’s decision. With Barrett’s secured role and Dotson as the backup, it has crunched the Arizona product from the rotation. Even Ellington, who has infrequently played, is a roadblock.

Trier needs the ball in his hands to succeed, and that comes at the detriment of more willing distributors like Barrett and another guard in the rotation, Ntilikina. Defense is in question, as well, something that probably did not matter as much when development was prioritized in the 17-65 season.

The 4-11 record seemingly should have given Trier a larger role, but all the veteran additions, and Barrett’s arrival, pushed him out. As with the others, the return to relevance is nowhere in sight, not to mention Reggie Bullock, another shooting guard, has yet to play due to injury.