The New York Knicks are having a really good season this year, with what is probably their best team since Carmelo Anthony’s peak with the team. The Knicks will get a worse seed than they did two seasons ago, but this year’s team is almost certainly better, driven by some very talented players.
The Knicks aren’t winning the title this season, however. What they do hope to do is win a title in two years, when their young players have come into their own and they have continued to upgrade the roster. Who will be the Knicks’ best player in two years? Let’s break down the candidates and then make a final selection.
Unlikely candidates to be the Knicks’ best player in 2 years
The Knicks have some incredibly talented young players on the roster right now, but outside of their “top 3” there is no likely candidate to be a star in two years. Immanuel Quickley has been a fan favorite for years and has excellent versatility playing in different lineups, but his shot creation is nowhere near the level of a perimeter star.
Similarly, Quentin Grimes looks like he could be the quintessential role player on a good team, a 3-and-D wing completely unafraid to bomb from three-point range and capable of locking up opponent guards and smaller wings. His star equity is very slim, however.
The final option could potentially be hitting on a draft pick, but that hope is exceedingly faint. If they make the playoffs this season, they will send their first-round pick to Portland, so they would need to miss the playoffs, nail a late-lottery selection and have him develop at lightspeed.
Let’s move on to the current stars.
Current stars who could be Knicks’ best player in 2 years
Julius Randle is having the best season of his career, and as such he was rewarded with a spot in the NBA All-Star Game. He will be 30 years old in two years, still firmly in his prime. He is averaging 25.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and if he can continue to improve his shooting accuracy it’s possible he could be the Knicks’ best player in a couple of years.
Randle may have received the formal recognition this season, but Jalen Brunson has been the Knicks’ best player. The 26-year-old point guard has invigorated the Knicks’ offense and given them the true floor general they haven’t had for a very long time. He is still continuing to grow as a player, and he should be even better in two years than he is now.
RJ Barrett is the third player to mention here. He is having a lackluster fourth season, averaging a decent 19.7 points per game but on frigid efficiency, shooting just 33 percent from deep and 43.1 percent overall from the field. His growth plateaued this season. He is a good defender, a poor shooter, and a decent enough playmaker; he will need to improve in all three areas to have a shot at living up to his contract, let alone make the leap to being the centerpiece star for the Knicks.
Stars on other teams who could be Knicks’ best player in 2 years
The New York Knicks have been amassing draft capital while watching the trade market for potential stars. They have talked to other teams about trading for a star, ultimately bowing out of the Donovan Mitchell bidding war and ending a discussion with the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine ahead of this year’s NBA Trade Deadline.
The Knicks have kept the powder dry thus far, but it’s likely they will decide to use it in the next two years, if not this upcoming summer. Adding a bona fide superstar into the mix could vault this talented Knicks squad into the upper tiers of the league, depending on the star added and who is retained.
Trae Young is a top candidate to come available, although he certainly has some defensive warts. Playing with guys like Barrett, Quickley, and Grimes could help mitigate that. Karl-Anthony Towns is another star who could come available as early as this summer. Other longshot candidates include Damian Lillard, Pascal Siakam, or even someone like Anthony Davis if LeBron James leaves.
Final Verdict: The best player on the Knicks is probably on another team, as the Knicks are almost certain to push the chips in to trade for a star. Without knowing which player that will be, however, Jalen Brunson is the most likely individual to be the best player.
NBA Mock Draft: 3 Consolation prize lottery prospects if Knicks miss playoffs
If the New York Knicks miss the playoffs they will keep their first-round pick. What lottery prospects could be a consolation prize for the Knicks?