thelesterlee
There is no active dynasty in the NBA right now. The days of LeBron James dragging random bums to the Finals are over. The Warriors haven’t made the playoffs in years and all the top teams are riddled with injuries.
The league is wide open and anyone can win the chip next season if they make the correct moves this summer.
Here are the 5 things the Knicks need to do to win the 2022 NBA Title:
1. Trade Julius Randle
Julius Randle had one of the best seasons of any player in the league this season. He was an All-Star and won Most Improved Player of the Year. He has one year left on his contract and will most likely expect a max contract.
He also looked like an absolute bum against the Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs and although I do not believe one bad playoff series suddenly transforms a great player back into a pumpkin, I do believe that the Knicks need a better number 1 option and I don’t see Randle fitting well next to whomever that player is.
Let’s say the Knicks HYPOTHETICALLY acquire Damian Lillard. Based on how Randle perceives himself, his body language when he doesn’t perform well and his 2019-2020 season of playing like shit—I can see Randle pressing and wasting possessions on terrible isos that end in turnovers or bricks of the backboard.
Look at Kristaps Porzingis’s current max contract with Dallas and see how absolutely useless he is out there with Luka controlling the offense. It’s possible for Randle to be a hole in the Knicks salary cap for the next half-decade.
2. Acquire a star
The Knicks finally have the trade assets, the cap space and the perceived ‘culture’ to finally make a move for an actual Top 20 player. If Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were free agents this season instead of two years ago, they’d probably be wearing Knicks jerseys but let’s not live in the past. Plus, those two are weirdos so who even knows.
Free agency doesn’t have the best options available. Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul can opt out. Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Mike Conley are also free agents. The Knicks should do everything to pull Kawhi from LA and they should leave the aging frequently-injured point guards that want max money alone.
As far as point guards go, I think they should look to either bring back Derrick Rose or throw money at Lonzo Ball and hope the Pelicans don’t match the contract. Honestly rather sign TJ McConnell if it means never seeing Elfrid Payton in a Knicks jersey.
As far as trades go, I don’t see anyone being available outside of maybe Karl-Anthony Towns and replacing Randle with Towns does nothing for this team. If the Knicks can pull a heist for Brad Beal or Dame Lillard then go for it. Fuck a future first round draft pick. No one’s ever won a title with a team full of teenagers.
3. Draft a playmaking point guard
The Knicks finished the season 41-31 and they entered the season with Elfrid Payton, Austin Rivers and Dennis Smith Jr as their point guard depth chart. Their ceiling is through the roof if they had a guy who can facilitate the offense and complete the simple task of throwing a lob to Mitch Robinson.
Derrick Rose wanted to get to the basket. Immanuel Quickley is a knockdown shooter. Those aspects of the game are covered. But they need a guy who can make players around him better.
Especially if they do end up getting Conley or CP3. These old point guards are going to miss a lot of games and you want a backup who you can insert into the starting lineup and you don’t really need to change your entire offense around.
Just like, stop drafting Obi Toppins and Kevin Knoxs.
4. Sign a Shooter
The Knicks managed to finish 3rd in 3-point percentage which is impressive as hell until you see they finished 27th in 3-point attempts. Yes, they one of the highest percentages but of course they did. They barely took any.
This offense can produce open shots but outside of Quickley, I don’t trust any of them to make shots consistently. Reggie Bullock was great this year. He also should not be the go-to shooter on a championship team.
Bring Doug McDermott back. JJ Redick has said he wants to play in New York. Bryn Forbes will probably be more expensive following his great run with Milwaukee but again, the Knicks have money. Get shooters on this roster.
5. RJ Barrett Level Up
RJ Barrett should be very thankful that Julius Randle was so stinky against Atlanta because it hid how stinky he was as well. I truly believe that he can become an All-Star going into his 3rd NBA season but the Hawks series showed some real flaws in his game.
RJ was one of the best corner 3 shooters in the league and that’s dope and all but is that really what you want from Barrett? Just sitting idly in the corner? I’ve always believed his ceiling is DeRozan-esque and that’s averaging 25 a game with a go-to mid range jumper and the ability to finish at the rim without necessarily being the most athletically gifted player on the court.
He has work to do but the Knicks success is 100000% based on what Barrett becomes (or does not become).
