The Strickland staff got together before the Knicks’ regular season opener and got some takes off about the upcoming season, including ‘20-21 Knicks MVP, record prediction, drippiest Knick, most likely to be traded, and more!

It’s finally here! The Knicks are set to play regular season basketball again for the first time in over nine months. The Strickland’s staff got together to celebrate this momentous occasion by giving predictions for a number of different items for the 2020-21 season. Welcome back to the Land O’ Takes.

Who will be the Knicks’ MVP for 2020-21?

Collin Loring: I think it’s Tom Thibodeau, and it’s not close. What it appears he’ll be providing should prove invaluable to what the New York Knicks look to do on the court this year. It would take something grandiose, like Frank Ntilikina averaging a triple-double, to top the head coach. Of course, that’s a triple-double in rebounds, assists, and steals. Frankie Smokes may never score another point again, and I can live with that. (Ed. note: May this be the last time that that cursed Knickname ever shows up at The Strickland.) 

Jack Huntley: RJ Barrett on his righteous rookie-snub redemption tour. Thibs is going to empower him, there is theoretically a rotation with enough shooting that he’ll have reasonable spacing, and after nine months off, I think we’re in store for a significant leap.

Shwinnypooh: Barrett looks ready to make a leap this season, and turn flashes of promise into sustained goodness. The game looks slower, and if the 2020/21 season is deemed a success at its conclusion, it’ll be because RJ has showed us he’s got the goods.

Alex Wolfe: I don’t wanna be cliche and say RJ, but just understand my actual answer is RJ. As far as being a contrarian is concerned, I’ll say Mitchell Robinson. I think RJ is going to be extremely important to the Knicks’ success on offense. Likewise, I think Mitch is going to be very important to the Knicks’ success on defense. But we’re not doing a “Who will be the Knicks’ DPOY?” question, so I’ll use this as an opportunity to pump Mitch up.

Mathhew Miranda: Mitchell Robinson. In the long run there may be other players with higher ceilings. But as we were reminded of in Mitch’s last six quarters of the preseason, when he’s active and not in foul trouble he gives the Knicks a completely different look, i.e. that of a defensively respectable team. If Robinson can average close to 30 minutes a game, he’ll be the team’s MVP and get some votes for Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

James “Lames” Marceda: The answer here is OBVIOUSLY Immanuel Quickley AND IT’S NOT PARTICULARLY CLOSE. Apologies for the collective cowardice of The Strickland staff.

Jon “Stingy” Schulman: Don’t pretend to speak for me, Jimbo. RJ Barrett. 

Dallas Amico: Mitchell Robinson. He was already a plus player last year, and possibly the Knicks MVP. By merely lowering his foul rate and playing more minutes he should easily be the best player on the court for the Knicks most nights. RJ looked sharp this preseason, and I think he’ll make a jump. But even so, he’s unlikely to have as large of an impact on the offensive side of the ball (since he’ll probably share playmaking duties) as Mitch will have on the defensive side of the ball. 

Tyrese London: It’s Mitch for me. If he can limit the fouls, his ability to impact the floor is higher than anyone else on the team. He is a legitimate defensive anchor and his unique abilities allow you to effectively create new coverages, which should inspire a coach like Thibs to get even more creative with schemes.

Theo Sands: It's still Mitch for me. Granted, RJ had an amazing preseason and it looks like he took serious strides this offseason, so he may be the frontrunner. But Mitch, as a per-36 guy, has been one of the most impactful players in the league. I feel like this is finally the year where he can put it all together consistently and take control of that starting position that we've longed for him to get since the latter half of his rookie year.

Stacy Patton: I like the Thibodeau answer, as I think he will be a difference-maker in getting the Knicks to competence on defense. However, I’m going to go with Mitchell Robinson. He’s playing for an extension, his technique looked better in preseason. If he can make another incremental improvement in foul reduction (the bet is he will), it’s tough to see anyone else providing his level of defensive impact, to say nothing of the vertical spacing and offensive rebounding he provides.

Derek Reifer: Mitchell Robinson. I’m tempted to say RJ, but Mitch was so clearly the best non-Morris Knick last season that it should be him, barring a big regression. He’s the only real defensive game changer on the team (although Frank isn’t too shabby himself), and he’s also a difference-maker offensively with his roll gravity, vertical spacing, and offensive rebounding. He’s also playing for an extension this season. The biggest thing to watch is the fouling - if he can stay on the court 30 minutes a night, he might have more than Knicks 2020-2021 MVP in his future.

Who will be the Knicks’ best rookie this year?

Jack: Best as in “impacts winning for this particular Knicks team”? It has to be Immanueal Quickley, which I really don’t think is some crazy answer. He’s the best shooter on a team whose offensive swing skill is shooting. He doesn’t even have to play well to transform the geometry of the court.

Collin: Forget the shooting, if Quickley can replicate even 75% of the talent we saw on the floor in the preseason, he takes this one by a mile and then some. New York’s need for a point guard will always outweigh flat-out talent and/or potential.

Stingy: Manny Quicksand. 

Shwinnypooh: Quickley is the flavor of the day and he could very well be more impactful, but I still suspect Obi Toppin will end up having been a better rookie at the end of this season. He’s adjusting from playing mostly 5-out last year at Dayton to playing with a rim-running big at almost all times, but you can already see the flashes of playmaking, cutting, and finishing that made the Knicks zero in on him in the draft.

Alex: Obi will figure his shit out, but it’s going to take longer than we initially thought. He’s not as “NBA-ready” as was advertised, I don’t think, thanks in large part to him being pretty small for a big in the NBA. So for that reason I’ll say Quickley, who we’ve already seen can provide a role in the NBA right this second. Fingers crossed that that role will be “starting point guard” from Day 1.

Miranda: Allonzo Tr— kidding! I think/hope Toppin will be one of the league’s top rookies by year’s end, whether that’s March, June, or some unexpected point in time. Quickley has looked wonderful after two preseason games. Channing Frye was earning Tim Duncan comparisons after his first few weeks in the league, but David Lee turned out to be the best player from that draft. Toppin dropping hints that he might have playmaking chops to go with scoring, shooting and athleticism will remind us why he was projected to be a top-five pick.

Dallas: This is a hard one… Quickley?! Obi might be a plus on offense, but he’s being asked to do some things he’s not super comfortable with/efficient at right now — like pop/shoot threes. There might be some growing pains there. On the defensive side of the ball, he’s going to be a negative this year, even in the best case scenarios (big man D is hard on rookies, even for the best of them!). But shooting and point of attack defense translate a little more easily to the NBA. So, I’m going with Quickley.

Tyrese: The spacing that Quickley can provide at the 1 can transform the offense from slow and bogged down to spaced out and faster paced. He’s also a foul magnet, so teams are going to hate him. So, Quickley for me.

Theo: Quickley, but mainly because his path to being a winning contributor is much easier. If preseason is any indication, Obi's transition is gonna be a bit clunky with him being behind Randle on the depth chart and still having to mostly share the floor with a true big (something he didn't have to do at Dayton). It also seems like they're attempting to make him more of a pick-and-pop guy, which wasn't a definite strength coming in. Quickley off the bat will provide two things that none of New York’s guards possessed last year: above-average shooting and an ability to get to the line. He'll keep his rotation spot easily.

Stacy: It’s Quickley. I think Obi will have to up his volume from three, and playing in many lineups with less-than-ideal spacing will blunt his ability to rack up points at the rim a bit. There will also be growing pains on defense. Quickley has an easy path to contribution as a shooter with penetration and creation ability, and I think he can fight to being at least neutral as a defender.

Derek: Depends on what you mean by best! I think by virtue of his draft position and his perceived NBA-readiness, Obi will likely have more opportunities and more volume headed his way this season. If his passing is legit (which it looks like it may be), he has the opportunity to really be an impactful offensive player. However, I’d still ride the wave and go with Quickley — his ability to open up so much for everyone else just by existing as a potentially top-notch floor spacer, compounded with cautious optimism about his pick-and-roll skills, can send shockwaves through the roster. I’d also give a nod to his defense — he moves well laterally and his 6-foot-9 wingspan is nothing to sneeze at.

Who will be the best Knick off the bench this year?

Collin: Julius Randle, I’m hoping. The sooner Thibs benches him in favor of giving Obi Toppin more exposure, the better. 

Jack: Whoever of Noel or Mitch doesn’t start, because both guys have the ability to start, and both will benefit from Thibs’ consistency of scheme over 48 minutes.

Shwinnypooh: Nerlens Noel, because I refuse to believe that Mitchell Robinson won’t ultimately make that starting spot his own.

Miranda: By season’s end, Randle. At the start, Quickley. In part because of how low the bar is for Knick guards and in part because he just seems fearlessly confident. 

Alex: Frank Ntilikina will carve out a role as a Thibs-y role player that plays anywhere from 1-3 and affects a lot of games playing about 20 minutes a night.

Dallas: While Shwin has been saying it will be Reggie Bullock in the Slack all offseason, I think it’s more likely to be Nerlens Noel or Austin Rivers. Nerlens can respectably raise the level of a second string defense (and respectability is pretty dang good for the Knicks!), and Rivers should be able to cook a bit against backup units. 

Tyrese: Austin Rivers is exactly the fake creator/shooter that would cook in a bench offense with more responsibility, so I would say him.

Stacy: Whichever of Nerlens Noel/Mitchell Robinson is coming off the bench. The Knicks have the ability to play 48 minutes with an elite rim protector with versatility and events generation. The bench big is also likely to be propping up some less-than-stellar defenders at the 3 and 4 (particularly if Knox is playing the 3). I think it will be Noel personally, certainly by the end of the season.

Derek: I’d love for it to be Julius Randle, but I’ll say Austin Rivers. Rivers has the opportunity to pick up where JR Smith left off in 2013, providing solid shooting and playmaking off the bench against second units.

What will be the Knicks’ record this year?

Collin: I’m comfortable with saying these New York Knicks can pull off 20 wins in a 72-game season. That’s almost entirely based on RJ Barrett improving and Tom Thibodeau being the head coach we’re all praying he can be. 

Jack: The schedule looks about as friendly as high-fiving a propeller. 20 wins.

Shwinnypooh: 27-45.

Miranda: 30-42.  

Alex: The first half of the Knicks’ schedule is brutal, and I think that’s mostly because they’re just not very good and not gonna be favored to win many games (although they’ll actually show some improvement this year on a macro level). I’m gonna give Collin and Jack the Price is Right treatment here. Give me 21-51.

Dallas: It is probably most reasonable to project win ranges. For that reason, I will give an exact prediction. Most teams — unfortunately — are not the Cleveland Cavaliers. 24-46. 

Tyrese: 25-47.

Stacy: 22-50. The Knicks face each East team three times and each West team twice. If the Knicks sweep Cleveland and Detroit and win one game each against Orlando, Charlotte, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, and Indiana, that’s 12 wins. Add maybe two more against division foes. In the West, they should be able to sweep OKC and win one against Golden State, Memphis, Sacramento, and I’ll give them three more against the rest of the Western slate. That puts them at 22 wins. Might seem pessimistic to not even give them a chance against some of the better teams, but I bet that evens out with the Knicks dropping a couple we don’t expect them to as well. The East has improved and I think it’s possible the Knicks are a much better team than last year, but it doesn’t necessarily show up in the win column. 

Derek: 23-49. With a brutal schedule and not enough talent on the roster, they should be headed toward another high lottery pick. 

What will be Brock Aller’s tour de force this year? (AKA the most ridiculous and awesome cap-bending trade)

Jack: It will be something we cannot possibly comprehend or predict with our primitive minds. Something imperceptible and revolutionary and ruthless. He’ll turn Theo Pinson into something at least 457 times more valuable than Theo Pinson.

Shwinnypooh: Turning Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel into four future 2nd-rounders, and using the $18.5 million in free cap space to acquire a future first somehow.

Miranda: For the first time in human history the Knicks will absorb an expiring salary and earn draft picks or one or two talented youngsters for their troubles.  

Alex: He’s gonna pull some deal out of his ass that nobody saw coming. My bet is he ends up turning the Knicks’ cap space into like 3-4 total picks, one of which will be a first. And then those picks might be used in some other deal to get a star (or star-like) player as soon as this trade deadline, but no later than the end of next year’s free agency period.

Tyrese: Elfrid Payton will somehow be moved at the deadline for positive value, which might be the single greatest accomplishment anyone could have. Also, a Nerlens Noel bidding war which ends up in some solid seconds in ‘22 and ‘25, giving New York multiple picks in the second round for the next six years.

Stacy: What Shwin said.  

Derek: Am I allowed to say trading for James Harden? Realistically, though, Aller’s two biggest goals should be moving as many veterans for picks as possible, and acquiring as many veterans with picks attached as possible. Cap space is an asset unto itself, and the Knicks have way more than anyone else in the league. It doesn’t roll over to next season (not to mention a weak free agent crop), so I’d be disappointed in Aller’s chops it doesn’t turn into draft picks.

How much will Thibs play the youth this year?

Collin: If the preseason games are any indication (they’re not), then hopefully a majority of the year. But if it happens, it won’t be because he’s playing the youth, but rather the Knicks’ kids will actually continue growing and outplay the veterans on this team. 

Jack: Mitch and RJ will get a bunch of minutes. Quickley, Obi and Knox will be in the rotation. I think Frank plays his way into the rotation too, over the course of the season, possibly in sync with DSJ’s minutes steadily declining up to the trade deadline.

Shwinnypooh: A lot, because leaning on them is going to give us the best chance to win games, and Thibs is interested in that above all else.

Miranda: 11. 

Alex: Pretty much in agreement with Shwin and Collin: a bunch, because as we saw in preseason, that’s what’s gonna be best for the team in the W/L department, which is important to Thibs.

Dallas: I think — and HOPE! — a lot. 

Tyrese: RJ, Mitch, Quickley, Obi, and Knox play 22-plus minutes for the team, everyone else on the outside looking in.

Stacy: If he wants to get some shooting out there, Thibs will be forced to play Quickley and Knox quite a bit. I think Quickley will end the year as the starting point guard. I also think Frank Ntilikina will get 20-plus minutes this year. If Thibs wants wings who can have two feet in the paint while also being able to close out and guard wings, he will need Frank’s team defense, particularly if he’s going to be playing Knox and Obi off the bench.

Derek: I think RJ is a lock for 30-plus minutes a night, but past him, I’m not optimistic. Hell, Mitch might even come off the bench! Regardless, because such a high portion of the roster qualifies as youth at this point, there will be plenty of minutes to go around. In conjunction with the previous question, if the front office can move some veterans, it will become all that much easier.

What will be Thibs’ most frustrating lineup trend?

Stingy: DSJ/Payton/Knox/Toppin/Randle.

Collin: Anything featuring an Elfrid Payton, Obi Toppin, and Julius Randle trio. 

Jack: Any minutes that RJ is on the court with Payton. The laws of physics have an insane defensive RPM and are very difficult to overcome.

Shwinnypooh: Continuing to force feed Elf and Randle minutes together, SMH.

Miranda: Randle closing games instead of Toppin. Not because it’s wrong, necessarily, but the moment Randle misses a big free throw or spins into a turnover, people gonna lose it. 

Alex: DSJ getting lots of minutes to start the year while Frank and others rot on the bench. And this is coming from me, one of the last guys that still believed in DSJ up until a couple weeks ago. He’s cooked.

Dallas: Worst case scenario: Thibs does the thing where seven players play almost all of the minutes, and six of them are vets. What I actually think will be the most frustrating thing? He starts off playing the vets for a couple weeks, we all pull our hair out, but he goes young pretty quick and we’re stuck rummaging through the Rite Aid discount bin for off-brand Rogaine. 

Tyrese: Anything involving DSJ or Elfrid Payton.

Stacy: Payton, RJ, Randle together in any form. I don’t hate any of the players individually, but together they preclude even functional spacing, even if Burks plays with them and shoots 45% from three. More generally, poorly-spaced lineups that have Elf because they need a “point guard.” I think Thibs will be much better off with someone who can space like Rivers (or Frank if the shooting improves), even if the Knicks trade off some of Elf’s steady hand. I think Elf can work in lineups with shooters at the 2, 3, and 4 positions (something like Elf, Burks, Bullock, Knox, Noel) but if he’s playing next to two non-shooters, it’s going to be rough.

Derek: Is it bad that my answer is the projected starting lineup? Elf/guard/RJ/Randle/Mitch is my nightmare, and not because I don’t like RJ and Mitch, but because I do! These guys need the opportunity to not only play with spacing and show the front office whether or not they can be pieces on a winning team one day, but also grow with their current young’uns as much as possible. I’d rather see RJ come off the bench than stand on the wing and watch Elf/Randle buddy ball, or drive to the rim into seven help defenders at once.

Which vet is most likely to be traded?

Stingy: Randy Bullbock.

Jack: I think Alec Burks shoots the ball well, and draws interest from playoff teams at the deadline, and Leon Rose is happy to nab a minor asset while opening up minutes for IQ/Frank.

Collin: I hate to say it, but just maybe… Austin Rivers? His deal is incredibly team friendly, and as Jack mentions, allocating his minutes elsewhere would be best for the youth movement.

Shwinnypooh: Alec Burks.

Miranda: Payton. He’s cheap and will help stabilize some playoff team’s bench unit. The Knicks will get a second-round pick. The streets rejoice. 

Alex: Alec Burks. Make it three straight trade deadline deals for Burks. He clearly has value around the league. Book that trade as something like 2-3 second rounders.

Dallas: Burks and Noel are probably the most likely to have utility for a playoff team (and MAYBE Bullock). So, it’s one of those two. 

Theo: I'd say Burks, but fingers crossed for Randle.

Stacy: Burks. We’ll see just how well Quickley can play, but this team is low on perimeter shot creators who can pull up and score at three levels. Add in Burks’ passing, and I think he could have an offensive year similar to what Marcus Morris gave the Knicks last year (probably doesn’t shoot 52% from three, but is also probably a better passer). He was traded to a contender last year and I expect many teams making a playoff push will be willing to trade seconds or even a late first for him. His skillset is very attractive.

Derek: Alec Burks is a no-brainer. He’s got an elite skill in his outside shooting, and his wing position is consistently valued on the NBA trade market. He’s not as old as Reggie Bullock (who I’d probably rank second here) either.

What will be the biggest positive surprise this year?

Jack: The difference between rookie RJ and sophomore RJ is going to turn heads.

Collin: Julius Randle settling into a new, more refined role under Thibs, ultimately earning some grace from Knicks fans.

Shwinnypooh: We’ll actually get back a second round pick or two for Julius Grundle.

Miranda: Meaningful growth and improvement. Do I sound like a basic bitch? If so, I stand tall in my Uggs while sipping my pumpkin spice latte. The last time the Knicks improved their win total from one year to the next was 2016; that team’s leading minutemen were Carmelo Anthony (31), Aron Afflalo (30), and Robin Lopez (27); the starting point guard, Jose Calderón, was 34. The last time before that was 2013, when the top seven in the rotation were all between 27 and 39. We don’t really do “young” and “better” ‘round these parts. I can see this team giving off the poor man’s version of the 2010 pre-Melo vibes.  

Dallas: Rising and Surprising, it’s Mitchell Robinson AND the Knicks defense. Mitch was dang good last year. But he’s going to really pop with just a little more discipline (which I’ve seen signs of through the preseason). And Mitch/Noel, with a bunch of respectable defenders around them, could have the Knicks hovering near…. THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK on that end. Super deep cut/more outlier answer? Theo Pinson becomes a rotation player. 

Alex: RJ Barrett will become the undisputed best prospect on the team. And I’m not even saying that Mitchell Robinson isn’t going to show improvement too, because I think he will. But over the offseason it was a toss-up between Mitch and RJ, and I think RJ is going to show that he has the ability to be the second best player on a Knicks team that actually has something to play for in the future. That’s if his jump shot only proves to be average — if he can start shooting above average from deep? Forget it, sky’s the limit.

Tyrese: The amount of zeros at the end of Mitch’s contract when he consistently stays on the court.

Stacy: Doubling down on my prediction from above, Alec Burks. We’ll have similar conversations about whether the Knicks should keep him, even as an expiring, because of how well he’s playing (and, like last year, I think the answer will still be trade him as a rental, stock assets, maybe consider re-signing him in free agency).  

Derek: RJ Barrett has a real chance to break out this season, if only for the fact that he played so poorly last year while showing plenty of tools. If he can use those tools even a little bit more efficiently (or even knock down free throws), he’ll be able to establish himself as a legitimate young NBA prospect. He’s got a great attitude and works hard; he just needs the opportunity to work in lineups that complement his skills.

What will be the biggest negative surprise?

Stingy: The anti-mask, anti-vax, herd immunity crowd will render all COVID vaccines useless as they congregate and mutate it into something much more dangerous and lethal. Basketball stops. 

Jack: The extent to which teams mercilessly target Obi’s steel hips on defense. The Stephs and Dames and Kyries of the world are going to do disgusting things if they get him on an island.

Collin: Julius Randle will maintain the starting power forward spot for the entirety of the season, pushing Obi Toppin out of the limelight and Rookie of the Year race. 

Shwinnypooh: Elfrid Payton continues to be a fixture in the rotation.

Miranda: At some point amidst the joy, James Dolan will remind us the eye of Sauron is always awake. 

Dallas: Berman will uncover the fact that Thibs moonlights as a sweet crooning speak easy tenor… wait, this is the negative surprise one? There won’t be any! The Knicks are awesome.  

Alex: I predicted above that I think Frank will cement himself in the rotation and that DSJ will be cooked, and that’s part of what will be most disappointing. In addition, I think Knox will be better, but not a starter or anything, and I think he’ll (for this year, at least) just prove himself to be a 3-point gunner. It’ll be kinda disappointing to see that — as some of these players are reaching the ends of their rookie deals, we’ll be finally forced to reckon with their real-life NBA utility and stop seeing them through rose colored “young core” glasses as their second NBA contracts fast approach.

Tyrese: Frank won’t establish himself fully in the rotation, giving me profound sadness.

Stacy: Quickley will not immediately establish himself as the second coming of Damian Lillard. More seriously, I think Obi will struggle to create and make a huge offensive impact playing in cramped lineups and will take a lot of threes that are necessary for his development, but will lead to lower percentages in his rookie year. He will also lose some minutes due to defensive issues, though I expect him to improve over the course of the season. Long-term I’m still very optimistic on his trajectory, but you won’t see some hyper-efficient positive year from him.  

Derek: Frank Ntilikina. In his contract year, I still don’t see a great path to a lot of minutes for Frank, especially with Quickley’s emergence. Although I am bullish on his outside shooting, I’m not sure if he himself is. I hope I’m wrong, but I think it’s likely he fizzles again and isn’t back next season.

Which Knick will be the most loved player on the team by the end of the year?

Stingy: Franko Mittens. 

Collin: Immanuel Quickley has got quite the lead in this department. 

Jack: The most universally loved? I think it’s Quickley, honestly. He has a historic approval rating already, and the contrast between Quick, Payton, and DSJ will be laid bare every single game. He is an elixir of spacing.

Shwinnypooh: Immanuel Quickley

Miranda: The prince who was promised who’s not here yet. This year’s Knicks are John the Baptist: “One mightier than I cometh, the laces of whose kicks I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with two-way upside and with fire from inside and outside the arc.” 

Dallas: Quickley. I think his enthusiasm and love for everything going on out there is going to be infectious. 

Alex: Quickley is gonna have the love of the fans that loved Frank for years, plus the love of much of the anti-Frank crowd. But RJ is going to establish himself as a bonafide borderline star, and for that reason he’s gonna be universally loved by default, even by the often-forgotten-about casual fans that don’t tune in often enough to really fall head over heels for a role player like IQ. So RJ will be the most loved overall, even if he doesn’t end up as the recipient of the most irrational hardcore fan stan energy like IQ will.

Stacy: Mitchell Robinson is going to be good for highlight plays every night.  We’ve already seen him singlehandledly change the course of several games, not just with shot blocks, but deterring shots at the rim and putting the fear of god in puny point guards.  

Derek: Quickley is the sexy pick, but it’s gotta be RJ - he has the right combination of attitude, skill diversity, youth, and playing time to be the fans’ darling for two years running.

Which Knick will show the most improvement?

Prez: Frank will have the most improved single skill — his shooting — but the total improvement of RJ Barrett on defense, at the rim, and at the charity stripe might have Frank beat.

Jack: Everyone will get a Thibs-isn’t-Fiz bump, but RJ will show the most across-the-board improvement. I also think Randle, despite a numbers drop, will be vastly more impactful (or less damaging) under Thibs’ iron fist.

Collin: I think we’ll see a positive development in Mitchell Robinson’s game, specifically a decrease in foul calls. What we saw in the preseason along with Thibs’ drill sergeant style gives me hope. 

Shwinnypooh: RJ Barrett. The finishing, the defensive focus, and, above all else, the playmaking, are all going to pop.

Miranda: Mitch. All he has to do is stay on the floor and the rest will come. 

Dallas: RJ. He wasn’t efficient last year, his playmaking was pretty good, but he was only a tertiary playmaker, and his off-ball defense left a lot to be desired. There is a LOT of room for growth here, and this preseason he’s shown the promise of substantial improvement in each of these areas (peep the finishing at the rim/FT%, the fact that he’s taken a jump in initiating load [and probably still has more room to grow here], and watch the defensive tape!). It remains to be seen if he can deliver on the promises made this preseason, but it’d sure be great   

Alex: The answer is once again RJ, but in the interest of throwing another name out there I’ll say Knox. He’s gonna learn to at least shoot the three at an above-average clip, giving him his first real NBA skill. I also think that he’ll get to at least passable on defense if (once?) Randle gets traded and the Knicks start playing him at the 4 (his true position).

Tyrese: RJ Barrett, due to his improved finishing and free throw shooting.

Stacy: After coming off the bench to start preseason, Mitchell Robinson is playing like he has a fire lit under his ass. His technique is better, and as his conditioning gets to midseason form he’s going to be extremely impactful simply by committing fewer fouls and staying on the floor.

Derek: Mitchell Robinson — just by staying on the floor more, which I have faith he can, he has an easy path to establishing himself as one of the game’s best big men. Although I think RJ will improve as well, too much of his improvement may be beholden to external factors, like lineup construction.

Will the Knicks ever sign or draft another player not from Kentucky or repped by CAA?

Stingy: Yea they’ll get someone from Tennessee with the No. 8 pick in the 2021 draft. 

Jack: You disgust me.

Stingy:

Miranda: Will anyone care if a year from now Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, and BJ Boston are Knicks?  

Dallas: The thing I love most about this site? We tackle the issues that no one else is talking about! 

Alex: What cheeky motherfucker wrote this question?

Tyrese: If it ain’t from Lexington, next-ington. 

Derek: Not anymore since they cut Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. That bridge is burned forever. /s

What player has the chance to become as divisive in social media discourse as Frank Ntilikina? Does such a player even exist?

Jack: Never again will there be such a perfectly misunderstood love for such a handsome collection of atoms as the love of Frankophiles for one Frank Ntilikina.

Collin: Ditto. ^

Shwinnypooh: Obi Toppin. I think it’s already happening based on some reactions I’ve seen to his preseason performances.

Miranda: Have we already forgotten the Carmelo years?

Tyrese: Mitchell Robinson contract negotiation discourse is going to blow Frank discussions out the water because anything above $12 million is going to be seen as an overpay. Something about centers being easily replaceable or fliers on career 20-10 guys.

Alex: I’m with Shwin, I think it’s gonna be Toppin. At a certain point he’s gonna figure out his offense at a NBA level and that’s gonna make some people starry-eyed enough to forget about how he’s getting bodied by NBA-sized bigs all the time on defense.

Stacy: Mitch. There are some people who will always see him as DeAndre Jordan-lite, a rim-running big who blocks shots but can’t do much else. There will be some who see him as a defensive unicorn unlike the guys he’s compared to. With his contract extension coming into play, there will be a lot of debate.

Derek: My instinct is Toppin, as he can be divisive for almost the same yet opposite reasons as Frank (has the opportunity to put up good “stats” while not providing as much team value). However, I tend to think the fan base will rally behind him considering he’s a rookie.

If you could make one (reasonable) trade right now for the Knicks, what would it be?

Jack: Randle and DSJ for Terry Rozier and Malik Monk. Rozier bumps Payton out of the rotation, the Dennis Smith Jr. Turd Polishing Experiment gets a new zip code, and Randle’s minutes go exclusively to Obi, Knox, and Iggy.

Shwinnypooh: Julius Randle for Will Barton and PJ Dozier’s contract.

Miranda: I’d trade Marc Berman constantly quoting Bryan Ohringer in his articles for more exposure for Prez. That cat has insights. Ohringer is like listening to a child who fell down a hole for a week compensating ad nauseum as an adult.  

Stingy: Dennis Smith Jr. for a half eaten banana covered in fruit flies.

Tyrese: Nerlens Noel for Kevon Looney and second round picks in ‘22 and ‘25. Also, Alec Burks for Will Barton and some assets. I know the question asked for one, but Alex can’t stop me.

Alex: Alec Burks and a second rounder or two for Spencer Dinwiddie. I think Dinwiddie and IQ would work really well for the Knicks, and he and Kyrie probably aren’t gonna work great together. Only thing is, Brooklyn can probably do better than that.

Derek: Julius Randle and a couple of second rounders for Malik Monk and Grant Riller. Randle leaving is a plus in itself for what it opens up rotations-wise, and the Knicks get a buy-low young shooter and what I view as an excellent prospect in Grant Riller. Plus, they keep their favorite thing in the world — first rounders and cap flexibility. The Hornets help their weird win-now experiment, while the arrival of LaMelo Ball and emergence of Devonte’ Graham make Monk and Riller expendable.

Outside of Frank (easy W), which Knick will have the best drip this year?

Prez: Not an easy W! Both of Frank and Austin Rivers made frequent appearances in Big Wos’ NBA Fashion Power Rankings. They will likely be battling it out for both the backup 2 guard spot and the title of drippiest Knickerbocker.

Miranda: The as-of-yet unknown superstar they’ll end up trading for. 

Dallas: DRIP is out, French Press is in. I’ll take the easy W’s when I can I get them. 

Tyrese: “I’mma go off. I’mma go off right now.”

Alex: Prez has opened my eyes, Austin Rivers has some serious drip. He’s easily the second best behind Frank, but to me it’s still no competition and Frank is tops. Quickley will definitely get people talking. Whether he actually has drip or not… that’ll be up for debate.

Derek: No respect for RJ?