2014-15 Review

The 2014-15 version of the New York Knicks were plain awful. They finished dead last in the very weak Atlantic Division, dead last in the Eastern Conference and were generally the laughing stock of the Association all season long. With head coach Derek Fisher and President Phil Jackson in the fold, expectations were much higher for this Knicks team.

Ultimately the talent just wasn’t there and the on-court product was horrific at times. Injuries certainly took their toll on the Knicks as Carmelo Anthony was shut down midway through the season and Andrea Bargnani managed to stay healthy for a mere 29 games of the season. Even at full strength the Knicks were a playoff bubble team; once the injury bug hit, they were destined to be terrible and terrible they were.

New Additions

Arron Afflalo

Afflalo was signed as a free-agent by the Knicks in a fairly desperate attempt to regain some respectability. Afflalo had always been a decent enough role player who could have the odd great night, but who generally was more of a ‘play within the flow of the game’ kind of player. There is no question that this wasn’t the marquee signing that the Knicks were hoping for this offseason, they will trumpet this one as a success nonetheless.

Robin Lopez

The Knicks continued to go after the Portland talent pool once they failed to even get a hint of recognition out of LaMarcus Aldridge. Lopez became the second signee for the Knicks out of Portland and he was arguably the best signing the Knicks made this offseason. Lopez is a very bright player who understands spacing and floor movement. He rebounds well and scores within the offense. Lopez should find some prosperity in the Eastern Conference as he is no longer battling against some of the best centers in the league on a nightly basis.

Key Losses

Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Knicks did lose a few players this offseason; however, of note it was the trade of Hardaway Jr. that raised a few eyebrows. Hardaway was traded on draft day to Atlanta for the 19th overall pick in the draft that the Knicks then used on Jerian Grant. Hardaway Jr. had long been rumoured to be on the trade block as playing with the Knicks was highlighting his inefficient scoring ways. Nonetheless, Hardaway Jr. is a skilled player who has proven himself capable of playing at this level. The newly drafted Grant has yet to prove a thing and he is trying to make the roster as a point guard which is a very tough assignment given some of the defensive responsibilities.
 

Biggest Strength

The biggest strength for the Knicks is the fact that they are still a marquee team in this league playing in huge basketball/sports crazed market. The talent that is on the floor is really secondary to the fact that Madison Square Gardens Entertainment is a booming business that generates good money. The team itself still resonates with some players who view the franchise as being still great in it’s namesake. As the current team continues to trudge on and produce terrible basketball; the Knick brand will continue regardless.

Biggest Weakness

The inexperience on the sideline and in the front office of both Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson is becoming increasingly problematic. The front-office goings on of James Dolan and his crew of ‘yes’ men and their relationships with Jackson, Fisher and the fanbase is becoming a massive problem for this franchise. There is no clear direction in New York as there is no defining voice in the room when it comes to basketball related operations. Dolan forces his opinion and views and ultimately this influence is sinking the entire franchise.

Bottom Line

The Knicks did just enough to crawl out of the basement this season. They drafted well last year and they are all hoping for a healthy Carmelo Anthony and production out of their free-agents. The Knicks will improve considerably from last season and they could conceivably challenge this season for a playoff spot. It still looks bleak for this once proud franchise; however, if Kristaps Porzingis can turn into that kind of top-tier talent that he was advertised as and the young players like Langston Galloway continue to grow, then this Knicks team could be on the road to respectability.

Fantasy Slant

Most Overrated

Carmelo Anthony

It is hard to classify a player like Anthony as overrated, but the reality is that Anthony is always near the top of the pile in terms of pricing and yet his inconsistent play and oft-injured status can quickly make him a giant bust. He still managed to average 24.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 3.1 apg; however, he only played in 40 games due to injuries. Anthony is now a 31-year old veteran of the NBA with 12 seasons of experience under his belt. He will break down due to age, fatigue and conditioning and he just isn’t worth the risk any longer for fantasy general managers.

Most Underrated

Langston Galloway

It looks like Galloway will be given ample opportunity to earn starter-like minutes for the Knicks this season. The Knicks do still have Jose Calderon on the roster and the newly drafted Jerian Grant, but it figures that Galloway will see significant minutes, if not be the starter in short order for the Knicks. Galloway played in 45 games last season and started in 41 of those contests. During that time he averaged 11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 3.3 apg while shooting .399 from the field and .352 from beyond the arc.

Calderon, on the other hand, started in 42 games last season and averaged 9.1 ppg, 3 rpg and 4.7 apg while shooting slightly better at .415 from the field. Calderon could once again find himself on the trading block as the Knicks will be actively looking for a team desperate enough for a point guard to absorb Calderon’s $7 million-plus salary for next season.

Biggest Surprise

Robin Lopez

Lopez will surprise a few folks who never stayed up late enough to watch the West Coast Portland Trailblazer games. Lopez is a physical center who plays very smart around the basket. He uses his positioning well for rebounds and has a nice soft touch around the basket. Lopez knows his game and he plays within it. He is an excellent passer for a big man and he cuts extremely well into open spaces. Lopez has been battling some of the game’s biggest centers in the Western Conference, but now with the switch to the East, the most intriguing matchup will be against his brother in Brooklyn.