Can New York Knicks fans trust the rebuilding strategy of their front office?

It’s been six consecutive years that the New York Knicks have missed the NBA playoffs, and in those six years, the Knicks have drafted three times in the NBA’s draft lottery.

In 2015, the New York Knicks would select forward Kristaps Porzingis with the third overall pick in the draft. A year after drafting in the lottery, in 2016, the Knicks would not have their lottery pick due to the  Carmelo Anthony trade in 2012. The Knicks finished the year 32-50 in 2016, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Their draft rights went to the Denver Nuggets, who would later than selected Jamal Murray at the seven spots in the 2016 draft. However, in 2017, the Knicks would select eighth in the NBA draft, selecting Guard Frank Nktilikina, and a year later, in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Knicks, with the eighth pick, would select Forward Kevin Knox.

In recent years, Knicks fans have given their shared loads of boo’s towards some of those picks, and some of those picks received high cheers. The problem is that Knicks fans have become impatient with the rebuilding process that the organization has brought forth. The fans wait with expectations every year that their roster will improve and become better than what most people look at as a disaster rebuild. The blame rest on the hands of the Knicks front office.

In the past, Knicks owner James Dolan has made questionable moves for the Knicks organization that caused fans to become angry with his decision-making strategy as an owner.
Just this past January, during the 2018-2019 season, Dolan decided to put together a trade package that sent Tim Hardaway Jr. Trey Burke, Courtney Lee, and rising star forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks. In return, the Knicks would receive DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith, and two future first-round picks. Before the trade, during the 2017 NBA draft, it was rumored that the Knicks were interested in guard Dennis Smith Jr. at the seventh spot but instead went on to take Frank Ntilikina.

The trade shocked Knicks fans, and though the move had been questionable, it did have it’s upside to it. With the trade it meant, the Knicks would enter into free agency with an opportunity to acquire two maxed leveled player contracts. The Knicks would end last season with a 17-65 record giving themselves a 14% chance at the number one pick in the upcoming 2019 draft. Those two factors gave Knicks fans hope coming into the 2019 offseason.

The biggest stories around the league were that the Knicks were set to have a big summer. James Dolan added a little more excitement to the upcoming free agency period when he made a special guest appearance on the Michael Kay show where he talks about Madison Square Garden as the Mecca of basketball and how he had confidence that top free agents would come to play for the Knicks in the up and coming summer.

The narrative of the “big off-season” took a turn during the NBA’s lottery. As Knicks fans hopes lied on lottery balls to give them the number one overall pick. Knicks received the third pick that night, and fans were left in distress when it was announced that they would be picking third in the NBA Draft rather than first, which all Knicks fans preferred, considering that the number one overall pick would be the most anticipated college prospect, Zion Williamson. The Knicks didn’t get Zion but got took another Phenomenal player in RJ Barrett, with their third pick in the draft.

The summer wouldn’t end there. Free agency opened up on June 30th and less than an hour into the free agency period, the top free agents the Knicks talked about going after were already deciding to sign with other teams. As a result, the Knicks would end up signing veteran guys to help fill out their roster.

The Knicks went on to sign at least one rising star through a tough summer free agency period. The Knicks inked Julius Randle to a four year 80 million dollar contract. Randle had been coming off a tremendous season with the Pelicans before free agency and was rewarded for his improved play. The Knicks also added more to their offseason pickups, adding guys like Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, and Marcus Morris. Solid Veterans, but here is the concern that if not most Knicks fans have had with the summer additions.

Four of the Six free-agent signings play the same position. With the newly acquired veteran players. The concern was that the younger players would receive less playing time if they were receiving less playing time that meant that it makes it hard for them to get the rhythm that they need to feel comfortable in the league. While this may be true, in some ways, there is still some room to grow for the young players that the Knicks have. The Knicks average team age is 24. Eleven of the Knicks 16 man roster is 25 years of age or younger.

This is where Knicks fans and the organization have to continue to be patient. Developing young guys can take time; not every guy in the draft can come onto a team and impact that team right away. Developing guys, while figuring out who fits with the core group and the direction the organization is part of the rebuilding process.

The front office, to this point, has done what they could with the Knicks roster for now. Though some of the recent moves have been questionable, their jobs require them to make decisions to put the organization in the best situation even if that requires signing four free agents who play the same position.

This year’s third pick R.J. Barrett has been a great addition to the Knicks rebuilding situation. His addition, alongside Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilitian, Alonzo Trier, Daymon Datson, and Dennis Smith Jr., serve as the Knicks young core for the future.

Hope still lies in the eyes of Knicks fans, but the question that remains is, can the Knicks fans trust their front office rebuilding process for much longer?