Although the New York Knicks were labeled as nothing more than a play-in team entering the 2022-23 season, it was still disappointing to see the team’s season end in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the No. 8 seed.
Still, Knicks fans should feel hopeful about the future. For starters, Jalen Brunson was stellar in the regular season and the playoffs. He’s the best player that Knicks fans have gotten to see suit up in a New York uniform in a long time. At 26 years old, Brunson should remain in NYC for many years.
However, there are other players that should’ve already played their final game in a Knicks uniform. The offseason will reveal what the front office’s intentions are, but at least two of these players should be on a new team next season. The majority of the fanbase would like to see the third on a new team, too.
3 Knicks that definitely shouldn’t be back for 2023-24 season
3: Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose entered the 2022-23 season fully healthy, but he played in only 27 games and averaged 12.5 minutes. He was instrumental to New York’s playoff run two seasons ago, but with Jalen Brunson taking over at point guard and Immanuel Quickley having a breakout season, Rose was booted out of the rotation.
The 34-year-old was linked to a few contenders leading up to the trade deadline, but he remained in New York. There were then questions about whether or not the Knicks would buy him out, but Rose made it clear that he was happy with his current role.
Fans were thrilled that he hung around in New York. During Game 3 of the team’s first-round series against Cleveland, fans at MSG applied pressure on Tom Thibodeau by chanting Rose’s name. Rose checked into the game as the crowd roared and the Knicks went on to secure the 99-79 victory.
Rose has a $15.6 million club option for 2023-24 and although he’s beloved by the organization, it’d be hard to see New York picking it up. The Knicks are closer to being contenders than many thought but Rose doesn’t have an on-court role with the team, and even New York fans would like to see the veteran have a chance to win his first ring on a new team.
than a play-in team</a> entering the 2022-23 season, it was still disappointing to see the team’s season end in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the No. 8 seed.</p>
<p>Still, Knicks fans should feel hopeful about the future. For starters, Jalen Brunson was stellar in the regular season and the playoffs. He’s the best player that Knicks fans have gotten to see suit up in a New York uniform in a long time. At 26 years old, Brunson should remain in NYC for many years.</p>
<p>However, there are other players that should’ve already played their final game in a Knicks uniform. The offseason will reveal what the front office’s intentions are, but at least two of these players should be on a new team next season. The majority of the fanbase would like to see the third on a new team, too.</p>
<h2>3 Knicks that definitely shouldn’t be back for 2023-24 season</h2>
<h3>3: Derrick Rose</h3>
<p>Derrick Rose entered the 2022-23 season fully healthy, but he played in only 27 games and averaged 12.5 minutes. He was instrumental to New York’s playoff run two seasons ago, but with Jalen Brunson taking over at point guard and Immanuel Quickley having a breakout season, Rose was booted out of the rotation.</p>
<p>The 34-year-old was linked to a few contenders leading up to the trade deadline, but he remained in New York. There were then questions about whether or not the Knicks would <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10066697-nba-insider-notebook-suns-eyeing-former-mvp-on-buyout-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buy him out</a>, but Rose made it clear that he was happy with his current role.</p>
<p>Fans were thrilled that he hung around in New York. During Game 3 of the team’s first-round series against Cleveland, fans at MSG applied pressure on Tom Thibodeau by chanting Rose’s name. Rose checked into the game as the crowd roared and the Knicks went on to secure the 99-79 victory.</p>
<p>Rose has a $15.6 million club option for 2023-24 and although he’s beloved by the organization, it’d be hard to see New York picking it up. The Knicks are closer to being contenders than many thought but Rose doesn’t have an on-court role with the team, and even New York fans would like to see the veteran have a chance to win his first ring on a new team.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The former starting SG </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-143291" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1708,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2023%2F05%2F1245958848-scaled.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Evan Fournier" width="2560" height="1708" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1245958848-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1245958848-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1245958848-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1245958848-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Evan Fournier, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2: Evan Fournier</h3>
<p>Evan Fournier was a non-factor for the Knicks in the playoffs. Although some fans were calling for him to make an appearance in the postseason due to New York’s three-point shooting woes, he remained on the bench. There’s a high possibility that the Knicks’ regular-season finale on April 9 will have been his final time in a New York uniform.</p>
<p>He was not only removed from the starting lineup toward the beginning of the 2022-23 season but removed from the rotation entirely by Tom Thibodeau. After playing in nearly every single regular season contest with the exception of two games in 2021-22, Fournier played in 27 games this season and averaged only 17 minutes. That’s the lowest number of minutes that he’s averaged since he entered the league in Denver in 2012-13.</p>
<p>The 30-year-old is a career 37.9% three-point shooter, but his inconsistencies and incapabilities on the defensive end led to Quentin Grimes replacing him as a starter. Fournier trade rumors were swirling around before the February deadline, but his contract seemed to be what kept teams away.</p>
<p>Fournier’s now <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/20/knicks-wait-offseason-trade-evan-fournier/">on an expiring contract</a> as he’s owed $18.8 million in 2023-24 and has a $19 million club option for 2024-25. A trade should be much easier to accomplish in the offseason.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> It's time </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-143295" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1770,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2023%2F05%2F1488435344-scaled.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Julius Randle" width="2560" height="1770" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1488435344-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1488435344-768x531.jpeg 768w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1488435344-1536x1062.jpeg 1536w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/05/1488435344-2048x1416.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Julius Randle, New York Knicks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1: Julius Randle</h3>
<p>This isn’t going to be a page dedicated to bagging Julius Randle. The reality is that he’s helped to guide the Knicks back to relevancy with two All-Star and All-NBA honors as well as two playoff appearances since signing with New York as a free agent in 2019. He had a bumpy 2021-22 season that led to a large part of the fanbase wanting to see him traded but he had quite the bounce back this season. He deserves credit for that.</p>
<p>The issue is that his game hasn’t translated to the playoffs. He’s averaged 17.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 15 playoff games while shooting 34.4% from the field and 28.3% from deep. With the Knicks’ season on the line in Game 6, Randle had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, but shot 3-of-14 from the floor and 1-of-7 from deep.</p>
<p>Along with his playoff history, fans were rightfully frustrated with the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/13/3-knicks-players-definitely-shouldnt-be-back-next-season-randle-rose-fournier/"https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/09/julius-randle-wildly-disappointing-answer-knicks-lack-effort/">blatant lack of effort</a> that he put forth in New York’s Game 4 loss to Miami. That’s something that can always be controlled whether or not shots are falling, so it was discouraging to see one of the team’s leaders seemingly give up.</p>
<p>Julius Randle should be appreciated for what he’s given to the organization and its fans, but it’s time to move on. The priority should be building around Jalen Brunson, who undoubtedly solidified himself as the Knicks’ No. 1 option.</p>
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