Via NY Daily News
Key Players: Kristaps Porzingis
In the craziest offseason in recent history, the New York Knicks actually made sense; they finally started the rebuild by firing Phil Jackson and trading Carmelo Anthony, for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second-round pick. The trade places the future of the Knicks in the hands of M̶i̶c̶h̶a̶e̶l̶ ̶B̶e̶a̶s̶l̶e̶y̶ Kristaps Porzingis. New York selected French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the draft's eight overall pick; for future Knick's grievances, Dennis Smith Jr. was selected with the preceding pick. The team lost Derrick Rose and Justin Holiday in free agency, but added Tim Hardaway Jr., Ramon Sessions, and the aforementioned Michael Beasley.
Best Case Scenario
Via NY Daily News
With Phil Jackson and his outdated triangle offense out of New York, the Knicks' best case scenario has already begun. The 7-foot-3 unicorn Kristaps Porzingis has full reign to launch 3s and play to his full versatile potential. Porzingis has the potential to be both the team's offensive and defensive anchor, posting averages of 18.1 points and 2 blocks--seventh best in the league. Porzingis proving that he can carry the heavy baggage New York is placing on his shoulders would be the brightest of spots in an expected dim Knicks' season.
Porzingis' expected offensive parter-in-crime, suggested by his $71 million contract, Tim Hardaway Jr. is coming off a breakout 14.5 points per game season with an impressive 46% field goal rate. According to Hardaway Jr., the Knicks flat-out told him he has to, "improve a lot more on the defensive and offensive ends". If Hardaway Jr. can show the improvement the Knicks requested then that $71 million starts seeming more and more reasonable. Sure, they could've signed him for $20 million less in a noncompetitive free agency bidding, but hey only positivity in this scenario.
The last and most important factor of the Knicks' best possible season, excluding Michael Beasley, is the potential rookie guard Frank Ntilikina shows this season. Ntilikina's prototype NBA size, standing at 6'5" with a 7'0" wingspan, positions him to match up defensively with any guard in the NBA, and puts no cap on his offensive potential. That potential is already showing as teammate Ramon Sessions stated, "He's got a lot of Kyrie tendencies. Not the most athletic guy but can handle the ball in tight spots. It's still early on, but he definitely gives me that Kyrie feel when Kyrie was a rookie." Breathe Knicks' fans, breathe.
Worst Case Scenario
Via ABC 15 Arizona
There's a lot of leftover baggage in breakups, from trust issues to stolen hoodies; in the case of the Knicks that baggage could come in the form of leftover dysfunctional mentalities and too early/too high expectations. By now everyone has heard of Kristaps Porzingis skipping his exit meeting; whether justified by Phil Jackson's chaos philosophy or not, it displayed a lack of leadership from the franchise's face. Along with the possibility of not living up to his role as a leader, Porzingis could fail to live up to his on-court expectations. Porzingis' comfort and durability benefits most from him playing at the 4, but his offensive potential suffers greatly. Playing at the 4 saves Porzingis' body but put him and his 65% paint conversion rate farther away from the rim. If acting as the team's center, Porzingis would be able to use his speed and shooting ability to blow by and stretch slower defenders.
The last addition to a Knicks' worst possible scenario would be Dennis Smith Jr. shining while Frank Ntilikina struggles. Aside from Patrick Ewing and Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks draft woes have been a constant plague. A prime example of New York's draft luck, in 2009 the Knicks selected Jordan Hill one pick after Steph Curry and one pick before DeMar DeRozan. Ntilikina has the opportunity to change or prove the Knicks' draft trend.
Prediction: 30-52; glimpses of a bright future