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Reevaluating the highs and lows from Knicks’ 2021 offseason

By Max LoSardo

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 08: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks reacts against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 08, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 08: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks reacts against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 08, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Derrick Rose, New York Knicks. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Derrick Rose, New York Knicks. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Derrick Rose: Re-signed to a three-year, $43 million deal

Grade: C

Alec Burks: Re-signed to a three-year, $30 million deal

Grade: C+

Nerlens Noel: Re-signed to a three-year, $32 million deal

Grade: D

Taj Gibson: Re-signed to a two-year, $10.1 million deal

Grade: B

It’s helpful to look at all of these signings together, as this is the let’s run it back section of the offseason. Individually, some of the deals are better than others, but as a whole? Milquetoast.

Starting with the good, Gibson should retire as a Knick. The last few years have made it easy to see why he’s a favorite of Thibodeau’s.

He is a calming veteran presence that’s necessary for a young locker room like New York’s. Plus, he’s the perfect 11th man for the team. Gibson’s fine with being out of the rotation for a little while but is always ready to give 100% when he’s on the court.

With Rose, it’s more complicated. He was the straw that stirred the drink last season and the Knicks’ second-best player at the time. New York went 24-11 with Rose last year, so it would have felt foolish to let him walk.

At roughly $14 million per year for an oft-injured aging point guard, he is obviously overpriced after missing most of the season due to injury. Yet again, the final year of Rose’s deal is a club option. So the Knicks could have Rose, Burks, Noel, Walker, and Gibson all as expiring contracts.

I’d argue that Burks’ deal is better than he’s been given credit for, as he was clearly misused as a point guard this past season. He’d most likely only fetch a second-round pick or two in a trade, but he’s still a good wing that should come off the bench.

On the other hand, Noel will be hard to move. He couldn’t stay on the court this season, and despite his flashes of defensive prowess, he’s a zero on offense. New York may have to take an L with Noel’s contract since Sims filled Noel’s role on a two-way deal coming off the bench.

A Walker-esque breakup with Noel seems likely for the Knicks, meaning that they can send him home until they can find a trade partner.

I admire the front office’s respect for continuity and understand the impulse to get the band back together after 2020-21’s success. But while none of these signings were a disaster, all of them delayed the inevitable. It’d be shocking to see the majority of them on the team’s roster a year from now.

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