The Knicks shot 29.2% in the playoffs this year. Read that again. It reaffirmed New York’s need to add three-point shooters in the offseason.
Evan Fournier still has one full season left on the four-year, $78 million contract that he signed with the Knicks two offseasons ago, but he’s certainly going to be out the door. New York’s shooting woes in the postseason weren’t enough to prompt Tom Thibodeau to put Fournier in, so that should’ve told fans everything that they needed to know.
The front office could look to the 2023 free agency class to help fill their need for shooting with players like Fred VanVleet or Seth Curry. That isn’t to say that the Knicks should sign either one of those players, but that’s just an example of what’s available.
The Knicks can’t afford to have a game in the playoffs where they shoot 10-for-35 (28.6%), which is what the team shot in Game 6 against the Heat. For New York to be able to make it past the Eastern Conference Semifinals next year, adequate three-point shooting is going to need to be a requirement.
need to happen before then</a>, though, starting with an obvious trade.</p>
<h2>3 moves Knicks need to make to have shot at winning 2024 NBA Championship</h2>
<h3>3: Trade Julius Randle</h3>
<p>Julius Randle’s time in New York has had its fair share of ups and downs. His first season was rocky, his second one was good, his third season was disappointing, and his fourth season that just wrapped up was great.</p>
<p>The playoffs have <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/05/21/julius-randle-trade-2-moves-knicks-make-win-title/2/"https://nypost.com/2023/05/14/disturbing-questions-surround-julius-randle-after-playoffs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told a different story</a>, though, with Randle averaging 17.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 15 postseason games. Here’s the kicker — he’s shot 34.4% from the field in the playoffs and 28.3% from three. Those aren’t numbers that a star is supposed to put up in the postseason.</p>
<p>The four-year, $117 million extension that he signed after his first All-Star season in 2020-21 kicked in at the start of 2022-23, meaning that he still has three years left on his contract with 2025-26 being a player option. Randle can provide value to another team, but it seems as if he’s run his course in New York.</p>
<p>The Knicks could decide to keep the forward during the offseason, but especially if the organization is able to bring a star in, Julius Randle needs to be on the move.</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/2023/05/21/julius-randle-trade-2-moves-knicks-make-win-title/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A glaring weakness </a>
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to be out the door.</a> New York’s shooting woes in the postseason weren’t enough to prompt Tom Thibodeau to put Fournier in, so that should’ve told fans everything that they needed to know.</p>
<p>The front office could look to the 2023 free agency class to help fill their need for shooting with players like Fred VanVleet or Seth Curry. That isn’t to say that the Knicks should sign either one of those players, but that’s just an example of what’s available.</p>
<p>The Knicks can’t afford to have a game in the playoffs where they shoot 10-for-35 (28.6%), which is what the team shot in Game 6 against the Heat. For New York to be able to make it past the Eastern Conference Semifinals next year, adequate three-point shooting is going to need to be a requirement.</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/2023/05/21/julius-randle-trade-2-moves-knicks-make-win-title/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> What everyone has been waiting for </a>
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Karl-Anthony Towns</a> and Trae Young could become available, but the front office should have hesitations about pushing in all of their chips for those two players.</p>
<p>For the first time in a long time, the Knicks should be viewed as a top destination for disgruntled stars. Donovan Mitchell was planning to be traded to New York last year, but obviously that isn’t what ended up happening. After seeing how the Knicks played this season and witnessing Brunson’s ascension to the face of the franchise, there are players out there that should have New York at the top of their team wishlist.</p>
<p>After years of disappointment (except 2020-21), the Knicks are finally on the right path. New York’s push to the semifinals wasn’t a fluke but instead is something that the organization can build off of by being aggressive and making the necessary moves this offseason.</p>
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