Knicks: Projecting the 2021 starting lineup with LaMelo Ball as PG

Projecting the Knicks’ 2021 starting shooting guard: RJ Barrett

Adding LaMelo Ball to the Knicks’ backcourt would create a tall and athletic combination with RJ Barrett. However, it would really put pressure on Leon Rose to secure perimeter shooting from his forward positions, as New York would be playing a lineup with two guards who haven’t proven they can keep defenses honest with their shots.

Barrett is coming off a so-so rookie campaign that saw him struggle with his shooting while showing flashes of why he could still develop into a star player. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard averaged 14.3 points per game, but shot only 40.2% from the field and a dismal 32% from downtown. Most worrisome, his free throw shooting, an indicator of pure shooting ability, was also terrible at 61.4%. These numbers shouldn’t come as a surprise after he struggled the same way in college.

Ball has the potential to become a generational passer in the NBA who can make any offense churn, but his lack of shooting could pose a problem. Playing in Australia, jacking up nearly 7 threes per game, he shot only 25%, and 37.5% overall from the field.

The upside of these two lottery picks playing together would be to give Barrett more opportunities in the offense to attack off the catch, with Ball finding him easy looks in the half court, and especially in transition. The combination of Barrett and Ball leads to the next position where the Knicks will need to look to the free agent market to add shooting.