New York Knicks: Offseason predictions for the young core

Player: Allonzo Trier

2019-20 Season Statistics: 6.5 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 48.1 FG%, 35.8 3P%

Prediction: Signs Elsewhere

Allonzo Trier’s sophomore year in the league hasn’t been what New York Knicks fans expected. He was one of the few bright spots last season, averaging 10.9 points per game in 22.8 minutes a night.

His nickname, “Iso Zo,” is an accurate representation of his playstyle. A fearless scorer with a sturdy handle and isolation moves, Trier looked like he could be the Knicks’ sixth man option for years to come.

However, his future with the team looked gloomy ever since head coach David Fizdale took him out of the rotation. The Knicks had an abundance of ball handlers, and with Trier’s ball dominance and limited defense, he was a frequent garbage time player who rarely got meaningful minutes.

In an interview with the New York Post, David Fizdale elaborated on Trier’s predicament:

"“His position was deep — [Wayne] Ellington, [RJ] Barrett, [Damyean] Dotson, [Reggie] Bullock and some Frank [Ntilikina]. That’s six guys, counting Zo, that needed minutes at the shooting-guard position. How do you get him quality minutes?”"

When interim head coach Mike Miller took over for David Fizdale, he paid even less attention to Trier and went to veterans Wayne Ellington and Reggie Bullock off the bench.

When Trier did play, he struggled to find his groove or establish any consistency.

At the age of 24, Trier has a lot of room and time to grow, but if he wants to secure a consistent role with a team, he will have to look elsewhere. The Knicks will likely add another ball-handler in the draft, making the need to re-sign Trier a non-priority.

Trier will likely garner some interest in the open market, and the best thing for his career is to find a situation where his isolation moves and scoring abilities are valued.

The Knicks are not the ideal situation for Trier.