New York Knicks are doing better, then many people realize
Free Agency so far in review
Julius Randle is not the superstar that Knicks fans wanted, but he may be the perfect running mate to team with an outstanding young shot-blocking Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks will be paying Randle $21 Million over the next two years with his third year having a team option.
The immediate boost received from Randle will be the bonus of 20 plus points and a beast in the interior offensively from a position that lacked real big man strength and tenacity. There may be questions about is Basketball IQ and Defense, but pairing him with Coach Fizdale while Randle is entering his prime is an excellent place to be.
Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington, and Elfrid Payton all these free agents are young veterans except Gibson who is the only signing well over the age of 30. Each player will bring their style and skill to the Knicks along with the right veteran presence.
Gibson and Ellington will be the elders on the team that coach Fizdale will look towards to help him guide this young team in the form of player coaches that can still add some value to the court when called upon. Portis, Bullock, and Payton will all have an opportunity to create a solid niche with the Knicks and may earn long-term roles with the team if they can play up to par. The worst-case scenario is that another team comes calling for a young spark plug player and the Knicks can answer that call and take in more draft picks.
The best thing is that truly each player signed a two-year deal but the second year is all team options which means the Knicks can keep this team going and building continuity or they can chase another big name free agent if they feel that person is the missing piece. With no real big name free agents coming around in 2020 it allows the Knicks to clear as much cap space as they feel they need by 2021, which includes not re-upping Randle for his third year as well and finding the easy out of 21 million dollars.
Scott Perry had done something that many of the Knicks GMs before him failed to do; he had a future outlook and maintained true to the course he set to create a stronger young Knicks team for a long time.