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2 Young players Knicks should continue to develop, 2 to give up on

By Jordanna Clark

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 20: Jericho Sims #45 of the New York Knicks dribbles during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2022 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 20: Jericho Sims #45 of the New York Knicks dribbles during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2022 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Isaiah Roby
Isaiah Roby, San Antonio Spurs. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

Give up on: Isaiah Roby

Isaiah Roby has yet to play a regular season game for the Knicks. The 25-year-old was at Summer League with New York, where he showed promising flashes, but he didn’t precisely lock in his spot as the next Obi Toppin. To be fair, he had been cleared to play only two weeks before after rehabbing an ankle injury.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported before the start of Summer League that Roby was “expected” to fill the Knicks’ backup power forward position. It wasn’t long after that when New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy reported that New York was “monitoring” the free agent market for a veteran big.

The Knicks have yet to fill that slot, but it’s hard to envision Roby cracking Tom Thibodeau’s rotation. He appeared in 42 games for the Spurs this past season and averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds before he was waived in February. Before that, Roby spent three seasons with the Thunder, who also waived him.

Roby’s seven-foot-three wingspan helps him to stand out on the defensive end as he disrupts passing lanes and protects the rim, but his inconsistency is a problem. He averaged 0.8 blocks per game in 2021-22 with Oklahoma City, but that number dropped to 0.2 this past season.

Perhaps the Knicks are waiting to see what Roby will bring to training camp this year, but given that he’s been in the league for four years now, it can be assumed that he won’t be able to carve out a role for himself in New York.

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