After making the playoffs at the end of the 2020-2021 season, it looks like things might be turning around for the Knicks.
One of the big questions Knicks fans were wondering about is which free agents will the team attract this offseason? There have been a lot of changes for the team in the last decade.
No head coach has lasted more than two seasons since 2012 and it’s hard for a team to build momentum when their coaching staff is constantly changing.
New head coach Tom Thibodeau has a chance to build on the success he has already had with the team in the coming seasons, and building up the team to create a powerhouse without any major weak spots should be the first thing on his to-do list this offseason.
What Is a Free Agent?
He can sign with another team if he chooses to. The term can also refer to a player whose contract is about to expire. Players who don’t currently have a team are also referred to as free agents.
There are also unrestricted and restricted free agents. Unrestricted free agents can sign with any team, while the current team for each restricted free agent maintains the right to match any offer the free agent receives to keep him on the team.
While the draft gets all of the hype, free agents can be picked up throughout the offseason.
New York Knicks Free Agents
Two free agents on the Knicks are Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson. Randle has become a powerhouse for the team, scoring more than 30 points in more than three games this season and eventually being named the
NBA’s Most Improved Player.
Holding on to Randle would be a smart move since he has shown that he is a talented player who is interested in improving.
Despite ending the season on the bench due to a fractured foot, Robinson still managed to make his presence felt on the court.
For such a young player, he is obviously very talented, though he could use the structure that an experienced coach like Thibodeau could provide to fully develop his skills. Staying on the Knicks would benefit both Robinson and the team.
Due to recent changes in the laws surrounding sports betting in New York, New Yorkers can now bet on NBA games as long as they’re on casino property,
according to WSN.com. Keeping Randle and Robinson on the team seems like a safe bet.
Free Agents to Consider
As the
pundits at ESPN have noted, the 2020 free agent roster was weaker than usual as the NBA “blitzed through a condensed transaction period featuring the draft and free agency in the same week”.
There are still a lot of strong players to consider for 2021-2022 though, and the Knicks should keep an especially close eye on some of the young players who are about to become available.
Devon Dotson, a rookie point guard for the Chicago Bulls, is set to become available in 2021. Only 21 years old, Dotson hasn’t had much time on the court yet but it’s apparent that he’s a talent in the making.
He’s a restricted free agent though, so the Knicks are going to have to make an offer the Bulls can’t match if they want to steal him away.
Denver Nuggets’ center Bol Bol is another young player who looks ready to make a name for himself. At 7’ 2”, 220lbs, he has the height to dominate the net in both offense and defense.
Bol will become a restricted free agent in 2022, giving the Knicks another year to watch how he develops before deciding whether or not to give him a try.
If the Knicks are considering bringing in a new power forward, Harry Giles III from the Portland Trail Blazers may be a good option.
Another young player, Giles was a first-round draft pick and has justified the Trail Blazers’ faith in him over the last two seasons. He will become a free agent in 2021.
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It seems like a new era for the Knicks is on the horizon. With Tom Thibodeau at the helm and making smart decisions in who to keep and who brings on to the team, the odds are good that the Knicks will be able to build on their success from last year.
