New York Knicks: How to build a championship roster
By Ken Tavarez
Turning the Knicks into contenders: Build the Foundation
The Knicks need Mitchell Robinson and R.J. Barrett to take a leap in their development and show they are viable starters with All-Star potential. That is a reasonable expectation considering what we have seen from them both. Especially when you consider how last season’s poor roster construction hindered both of them.
If Robinson can prove he is more than a rim runner by developing some semblance of a post game and finally show us the 3-point shot we have only seen on social media clips, it will elevate his status to a potential franchise-changing player. Now, if he can also show he is a serviceable passer, the sky is the limit. A very good season for Robinson would be if he could average 15 ppg, 10 rpg, 2.0 apg and 2 blocks per game.
As for Barrett, we know he needs to improve his outside shooting. But he also needs to tighten his handle and passing. If that happens, then you could use him in different lineups to exploit mismatches. A great season for Barrett would be if he could average 19 points, 4.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds on a true shooting percentage of 54%, which would be a 7% improvement over his rookie campaign.
Both Robinson and Barrett could develop into starters on a championship team, but hoping either could be the third star by 2021-22 might be a stretch.
Beyond the cornerstone pieces already on the Knicks roster, the 2020 NBA Draft offers an opportunity to add another young piece. While this year’s class is not projected to have any true top-end talent, there are always good players in every draft. If the Knicks could land at least one player with starter potential, then it will be considered a success.
A player like Devin Vassell would be a nice addition for the Knicks, or even someone like a Kira Lewis Jr. or Patrick Williams, who has a higher upside. If New York can somehow land one of the future All-Stars that will come out of this draft, even better. But in the end, the player Leon Rose and his scouting department draft this season needs to be part of the rotation, especially if they are eventually used as an asset for a future trade.