NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 16: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks hangs on the basket after dunking during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2022 in New York City. The Knicks won 128-98. 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)
Knicks need to embrace youth movement ahead of 2022-23 season
The New York Knicks need to embrace the youth movement after being stuck in the middle last season. There are multiple older players on the roster and the Knicks should do their best to move on from the majority of the veterans.
Julius Randle is the most obvious player who should be moved when discussing a shift towards the youth movement. It seems possible that New York could target the fourth pick in the draft from the Sacramento Kings, a team that has shown signs of wanting to trade down from their top four selection for a veteran in a win-now move.
The Knicks could attempt to move Randle and some of their plethora of picks to target Jaden Ivey at No. 4, which would definitely be a step in the right direction. This would give New York a dynamic guard with incredible potential who would fit well next to RJ Barrett.
The Knicks have been stuck in the middle mainly due to Randle overperforming in the 2020-2021 season, and instead of trading him at the deadline, Randle led New York to the playoffs and was then signed to a four-year, $117 million extension last offseason.
Randle still has value, and the Knicks would be wise to trade him because if they keep him, the team will continue to be stuck in the middle. The front office has the option to try to fix the team in the offseason and keep trying to win with the current cast, but it makes more sense to build around Barrett.
The New York Knicks need to focus on the youth in 2022-23
Barrett was New York’s best player this past year. His performance at the start of 2022 made him look like an All-Star, even at the young age of 21. The Knicks played exactly half of their season in 2022, and over that period Barrett averaged 23.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Barrett has become the offensive leader and New York should go all-in on the young guys around him, like Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Cam Reddish, Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson, Deuce McBride, and Jericho Sims.
I think that I speak for most Knicks fans when I say the majority of us would love a starting lineup of:
PG: Immanuel Quickley
SG: Quentin Grimes/Cam Reddish
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Obi Toppin/Cam Reddish
C: Mitchell Robinson
This is more of a lineup that is based on who is currently on New York’s roster. Obviously, a rookie would probably be in the starting lineup if the Knicks were to trade up in the draft and pick up someone like Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe. It would also involve keeping Mitchell Robinson, who at this point, seems to be leaving New York.
Regardless, the Knicks are better off moving on from Randle, along with possibly trading both Evan Fournier and Alec Burks (and possibly even Nerlens Noel). It makes more sense to build around the young guys and keep veterans like Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson for leadership purposes.
A quick fix does not feel like the correct path here. When New York’s president Leon Rose took the job, he said that success would not be instant, but that they were going to do things the right way. This would be a first, but the Knicks need to embrace the youth movement.
