Let’s face it, the NY Knicks have gotten a lot better over the offseason. With Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier as two new additions to the team, it is possible multiple Knicks will see their roles change next season.
NY Knicks: Players Who Will See Their roles Change Next Season
Though, for the most part, the Knicks are basically returning with a very similar roster. The Knicks lost only two true role players were Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton… though the latter’s departure did not upset too many Knicks fans.
The Knicks have replaced two below-average starters with two players who both very much deserve to start. New York also has a lot more scoring depth now in comparison to previous seasons.
Multiple returning players on the Knicks will see minute changes, and they may be in different roles. Walker and Fournier are both good offensive weapons who can score and facilitate, and they add shooting that the starting five previously had some issues with.
The most significant change is how the Knicks have gone from a roster with a weak point guard situation to a team with an above-average starting point guard with a 6th Man of The Year candidate off the bench.
New York also added Miles McBride and Quinten Grimes through the draft, two more guards. Though most of their minutes have been projected to probably only see the court when more experienced Knick players miss time with injuries.
The Knicks will not need as much playmaking from positions outside of the point guard because both Walker and Rose are talented enough to run the offense.
An example of the “role change” that the Knicks made from the 2019-2020 season was RJ Barrett going from a guy who was more left out of the offense to the second option on a successful Knicks team.
Another example is Kevin Knox going from a starting small forward to basically a fan with courtside seats and a uniform over the span of 2 seasons, one of these predicted role changes is somewhat similar to this one.
Regardless, when there is a talent upgrade, player roles will be different. Let’s see how they could change.
NY Knicks: Player #1 — Obi Toppin
This is the role that I could see having a similar trajectory to Knox, except I do not think Toppin will get benched. I agree with the Knicks Power Forward depth chart’s predictions that Obi’s new role will probably be playing basketball on a new team.
I recently wrote that Obi Toppin is a completely different player when he can find his confidence, but it is incredibly difficult to find your confidence when playing behind the best player on the team.
I personally think Obi has huge potential. When you can develop a consistent three at 6’9″ with Toppin’s athleticism, there is a possible chance of being an all-star.
Though I’d rather this title be given to RJ Barrett, Julius Randle is the most untouchable player on the Knicks. I frankly cannot think of a situation where the Knicks move the All-NBA forward. This means there is zero chance Toppin will take the job from Randle.
Toppin could see more minutes at center if he sticks in New York. It came out that the Knicks would be willing to give “3 or 4 first-round picks to keep RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin” in a trade for Damian Lillard. The Knicks still value Toppin very highly, however, he is mentioned in basically every Knicks mock trade that is made nowadays.
Toppin will either see his minutes increase through an injury, a teammate being traded, or get the starting job with a new team.
NY Knicks: Player #2 — Alec Burks
Last season I had an issue with Alec Burks playing the wrong role. I loved when the Knicks signed him because I thought he would add good spacing for when RJ Barrett would attack the rim.
Unfortunately, Burks seemed to play point guard over RJ, which is a mistake. Burks spent his entire career as a spot-up shooter with the ability to create some space of his own off the dribble while also not being a defensive liability… and that’s it.
Burks is a very solid player and a great shooter, but that is what he is, a shooter. Burks shot 42% from the field last season; he shot the same percentage from deep.
Burks will probably go back to the role that got him this far in the NBA with Walker, Rose, Quickley, and Barrett expected to take another step forward.
The Miami Heat shelled out 90 million dollars over 5 years to keep Duncan Robinson around. Robinson is in Miami to be a knockdown shooter and nothing more. Burks shot better from three, and his 14.8 PER is much better than Robinson’s 11.0 rating. The Knicks have a chance to get a steal of a contract for Burks, only paying him around 10 million per year.
It is also important to add that Burks played excellently in his short stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. He covered a JJ Redick-shaped hole in the Wall of the 76ers offense and did it very well.
When Burks is there to be a spot-up shooter, he is a better player. The Knicks putting him back in that role will help the offense a lot in the process.
Another role that is less of a change and more something Burks is going to lose is his role as the Knicks closer. With the notoriously clutch ability of Kemba Walker, it is safe to say Burks will not be the guy taking the final shots anymore.
NY Knicks: Player #3 — RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett is the player who I want to see have their role changed the most. The Knicks young stud showed enormous improvement off of a decent rookie season, and hopefully, he makes a huge third-year jump, similar to players like Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo.
RJ was the second-best player on a playoff contender last season, showing an increasingly versatile offensive game that nobody wants to remember. He still has much more room to grow also.
Barrett’s role is less of a role change and more of a role expansion. When you have a young player with a ceiling like Barrett’s, you have to jump on that.
Barrett is only one of eight players in NBA history to score more than 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 300 assists before turning 21. The others are either in the Hall of Fame or headed to the Hall of Fame, and yes, I am saying with certainty that Luka Doncic will one day be in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
RJ should stay the second option behind Randle, and the Knicks should focus on him more than last season, as he is their best young asset who deserves an increased role in the offense. It is a way to keep progressing his development into hopefully being an all-star in the next two years.
Despite the acquisition of more offense and the fact that some young guys can see increased roles, the Knicks’ focus should still be on Randle and Barrett’s 1-2 punch. Barrett’s role should expand into the surefire second option for the Knicks and their offensive leader when Julius Randle is off the court.