Knicks need patience in preparing for important 2021 offseason
By Adam Kester
Knicks 2020 Free Agency
The Knicks head into the 2020 offseason with cap space and the 8th, 27th, and 38th picks in the upcoming draft. It’s a perfect opportunity to retool and start laying the groundwork for the future.
This will also be the first opportunity for new president Leon Rose to put his mark on the franchise. It’s hard not to get excited about the Knicks’ direction with all of the different basketball minds Rose has brought in to the front office and coaching staff.
Between the draft and potential free agents, the 2020 offseason does not appear to be a significant one. It won’t change the landscape of the league as some recent offseasons have done.
It’s important to note this because it directly affects how a team at the bottom of the league, like the Knicks, should approach rebuilding their roster.
The Knicks shouldn’t feel pressured into forcing a quick turnaround for next season. Yes, the team was hard to watch this past year. This is also the very first year for both Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau.
There are, without a doubt, some free agents this summer that would have a positive impact on the Knicks. Players like Fred VanVleet, Christian Wood, and Davis Bertans are all players who seem to have hit their stride in 2020 and have been linked to the Knicks. Bertans is the oldest of that bunch at only 27-years-old.
There are other potentially cheaper options as well. The Knicks could try to snag a veteran guard like Goran Dragic or DJ Augustin on a 1-2 year deal.
You could write plenty of different narratives about who the Knicks should and shouldn’t sign, but ultimately, it’s obvious that this team isn’t becoming a contender overnight.
If the Knicks ultimately end up acquiring one or two of these free agents, they could become long-term complementary pieces and provide some new life for the team.