If Knicks were a Stock Now Would be Time to Buy — Top 10 Reasons

If the Knicks were a stock — now would be a good time to buy. They are 9-26 but have:

1 Three (3!) rookies who may make the All-Rookie 1st or 2nd teams (Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and Allonzo Trier).
2 Two (2!) guys who will receive votes for most improved player (Noah Vonleh and Emmanuel Mudiay).
3 Kristaps Porzingis waiting in the wings to return possibly this year but probably next year.
4 Enough cap space to sign an elite free agent and rumor (and logic) has it that Kevin Durant will sign with them this summer and if not him, Anthony Davis and if not either of them — then maybe Knicks wait a year and see if Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to play here.
5 Shot blocking and the potential for future interior defense. Mitchell Robinson (currently injured) is 2nd in the league in blocked shots per minute. Luke Kornet looks like a secret weapon off the bench with deadly 3-pt accuracy from a 7 footer and a penchant for blocking shots and playing active defense in the paint. When Porzingis comes back this team will have him, Robinson and Kornet as three elite shot blockers — crazy! Plus Kevin Knox can block one now and again — this could be formidable interior-defensive team forming.
6 Elite (possibly top-3) draft position in this June’s draft (unless they go off on a 2nd-half run which is starting to look extremely unlikely).
7 The youngest team in the NBA. Besides the above-mentioned talent, they have other good young players like Damyean Dotson, and perhaps or perhaps not Frank Ntilikina who may or may not be a good, very good, or not so good player. He is only 20 years old and plays pretty good defense (although could be overrated) and has a smooth jumpshot.
8 A good GM. Maybe very good. Possibly great. Scott Perry seems to have an eye for talent and knows what he’s doing. The roster will continue to evolve and it’s great as a Knick fan to know Perry is making the decisions. For example, the trade of Carmelo Anthony for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a high 2nd round pick (which turned into Mitchell Robinson) may be one of the best trades in Knicks history. Remember, Phil Jackson wanted to dump Melo and his salary for nothing a year after having resigned him to the huge extension.
9 A “player’s coach”. Not sure if David Fizdale is a great coach or just a good coach, or maybe an average coach, but he is certainly a “player’s coach” and a top free agent like Durant wouldn’t be turned off by him. Especially if the Knicks play better defense as a team in the second half.
10 Trade-able veterans playing well:

  • Tim Hardaway is averaging over 21 pts a game and leading the league in drawing charges defensively. Hardaway is a streaky shooter with poor shot selection but is is a big-time scorer who isn’t afraid to take big shots, is extremely athletic and terrific at driving to the basket. He makes about $17 Million a year which is high but not too bad considering NBA salaries these days. He could certainly help a contender for a title run.
  • Kanter continues to score and rebound like a beast. Kanter also makes $17 Million a year but his contract runs out at end of this season making him ideal for a playoff-run team with need for inside scoring, rebounding, energy, and leadership.
  • Courtney Lee and Trey Burke also have value.
  • This is a far cry from past Knicks teams which had players nobody else wanted. Look at Ron Baker — released by the Knicks because there was no room for him — and picked up a day later by a team (Washington) with a much better record than the Knicks.

 

 

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