The past month brought the highest of highs for New York Knicks fans, as well as the lowest of lows. New York beat Philadelphia in the first round but lost Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), Mitchell Robinson (ankle), OG Anunoby (hamstring), and even Jalen Brunson (hand) in the postseason.
Even though there's the disappointment of losing to the Pacers in Game 7, there's a lot Knicks fans should be hopeful about. The same was said last year, but New York is in a far better position than it was then.
In what should be another busy offseason, the organization will have to make decisions about a few players.
5 Knicks whose futures are up in the air this offseason
5. Jericho Sims (club option)
In the 2022 offseason, Jericho Sims signed a three-year extension. He made $1.6 million last season, $1.9 million this past season, and could make a little over $2 million next season. The front office must decide on his contract this summer, as next season is a club option. If the Knicks don't pick it up, Sims will enter free agency.
It was initially thought that Sims would be New York's primary backup center, but Isaiah Hartenstein claimed that role after he signed with the team in 2022 free agency. Hartenstein and Robinson, who underwent two ankle surgeries in 2023-24, are the Knicks' top two centers. If it weren't for the team's injuries, Sims would've been out of the rotation altogether.
For injury insurance, New York should consider picking up Sims' option. The 25-year-old is still far from being a regular rotation player, but that could change (like Deuce McBride). Maybe Sims could be the next surprise.
4. Alec Burks (UFA)
The Knicks brought Alec Burks back to NYC with the hope that he'd provide three-point shooting, considering he shot 40.1% from deep in the first half of the season in Detroit. Unfortunately, he struggled so much that Tom Thibodeau had no choice but to remove him from the rotation.
Burks surprised everyone when New York had no choice but to play him in Indiana when the Knicks were even more shorthanded after OG Anunoby's injury. The veteran guard stepped up big time, averaging 14.8 points in six games.
Entering the offseason, though, he could sign with a new team. The soon-to-be 33-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent. Even with his brief playoff success, Burks might not have done enough to prove New York should re-sign him. He's at the bottom of the list of players the Knicks should prioritize financially this summer.
New York fans will always respect Burks, specifically his professionalism. Sadly, the reunion didn't go as planned initially, but he changed that narrative in the postseason.
3. Precious Achiuwa (RFA)
Knicks fans didn't pay much attention to Precious Achiuwa after he was included in the Anunoby trade. He was nothing more than a throw-in, but the New Yorker quickly changed that narrative. With Robinson still out after undergoing ankle surgery in December, Achiuwa stepped up. He averaged 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in the 49 regular-season games he played (18 starts).
Achiuwa will be a restricted free agent this summer. ESPN's Bobby Marks predicted the big man will sign a deal worth $8-$10 million annually. The Knicks will be able to match any offers Achiuwa gets from other teams.
Depending on what happens with Hartenstein, the front office could prioritize keeping Achiuwa. Or, if the Knicks are considering including Robinson in a trade (which is pure speculation), they could retain Achiuwa in free agency. He's had his ups and downs in his short time in New York but stepped up when needed. That can't be forgotten.
Unless offers from opposing teams are too much for the Knicks to match, Achiuwa could be back next season.
2. Isaiah Hartenstein (UFA)
New York signed Hartenstein to a two-year, $16 million contract in 2022. He and Brunson were both free agency home runs for the Knicks. Both could sign new deals this summer, as the point guard's eligible to sign an extension, and Hartenstein will be an unrestricted free agent.
The center has said he'd like to stay in New York, which makes sense because the past two seasons were the best of his career, specifically 2023-24. In the regular season, he averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. When Robinson went down in December, Hartenstein more than answered the call.
Hartenstein has set himself up for a nice payday (subscription required) and will draw interest from opposing teams. The Knicks should want to keep Hartenstein, and they'll have the upper hand. He'll get paid starter money, and if it's by New York, it will be interesting to see if the team keeps Robinson or trades him.
1. OG Anunoby (player option)
The Knicks kicked off trade season with a bang when they sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors for Anunoby on Dec. 30. As devastated as fans were about losing two of their homegrown stars, Anunoby's presence quickly reminded them why the front office made the trade.
New York looked unstoppable when Anunoby entered the starting lineup in January, but injuries stopped that momentum. Randle dislocated his shoulder, and Anunoby dealt with an elbow injury that required surgery. Luckily, Anunoby returned, but he missed time in the postseason with a hamstring injury he suffered against the Pacers in Game 2. He started Game 7, but lasted a few minutes before Thibodeau pulled him.
One of the biggest concerns about Anunoby is his health, but that shouldn't stop New York from keeping him in free agency. The 26-year-old has a $19.9 million player option for 2024-25 that he's expected to decline to become an unrestricted free agent.
The good news is that CAA represents Anunoby, who has said he'd be willing to take less money to stay with New York. He fits perfectly with this Knicks roster and spoke highly of his short time in NYC.
Not only should he be back next season, but hopefully, he'll have good health.