New York Knicks: Summer League Review

For far too long the New York Knicks have been spinning their wheels swinging for the fences and shortcutting the inevitable rebuild. This summer should mark the moment they came to terms with the process.

On the way, one of the more highly anticipated Summer Leagues in recent memory was capped off with an 83-76 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. New York finished their summer schedule with a 4-1 record and will now face some roster decisions as training camp nears closer.

By most measures it was a positive showing for the Knicks, as they began the arduous process of erasing the memory of a futile 2014-15 campaign. A high lottery pick promised to await them at the end of their nightmarish season and after inexplicably winning two late-season games that potentially cost them precious ping-pong balls, they fell to the fourth pick.

That translated into highly critiqued big man Kristaps Porzingis, an obvious ticket draw and headliner here at Summer League.

The 7-foot-1 Latvian averaged 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks while shooting 48 percent from the field in four games. Coach Derek Fisher consistently kept the rookie’s minutes near 20 per game.

Porzingis showed the potential that allowed his draft stock to skyrocket and despite his slight frame had no trepidations absorbing contact. He showed off a surprisingly versatile offensive repertoire that included jump hooks, flip shots and his much-praised perimeter stroke.

Still, his rebounding was subpar and the eye test says he will undoubtedly struggle on the defensive end in regular season play. Hit pause on the Dirk Nowitzki comparisons, but the kid made an impressive debut.

New York’s other acquisition—point guard Jerian Grant from Notre Dame—impressed with his playmaking, a major part of the package the Knicks are expecting from him this season. Grant was shoddy from the field (39 percent) especially in his first two games when he went 4-of-14.

He became noticeably more comfortable as games wore on though and shot efficiently and consistently from three (5-of-10 and connecting on one each of the five games).

"“We really enjoy having his playmaking out there, his vision, his comfort level with handling the basketball,” Knicks head coach Derek Fisher said of Grant’s performance in Las Vegas. “That’s one of the things that really excited us when we drafted him at the number we did (No. 19, a trade with the Wizards) because of that ability.”"

Forward Cleanthony Early also made a strong showing initially before Fisher scaled his minutes back the final two games. Early, the Knicks 2014 second-round selection from Wichita State, had three strong scoring games of 18, 13 and 13. Last year he often found himself lost in the offense and his improvement on defense still seems to be sorely lacking based off his summer league effort.

New York will clearly need everyone to arrive to training camp in improved form. That includes Langston Galloway, who collected All-Rookie second team recognition last season and was one of the few positive spots for the Knicks. But he’s looked complacent at times during Summer League, which is concerning in a new and more crowded Knick-backcourt.

That backcourt includes 6-foot-7 point guard Ricky Ledo. Like others, he also struggled with his shot (36 percent from the field in his five games). He has an inclination to force the issue when the defense closes quickly. His partially guaranteed contract further makes Ledo’s future in New York somewhat cloudy.

With Grant positioned to man the point, Ledo could find himself the odd man out.

The Knicks will also have to decide on Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who was considered another “draft and stash” selection in the second round in 2014. He showed massive potential in stretches during his tenure at Knicks D-League affiliate Westchester last year.

He plays with an exuberance and energy on defense that would make a roster spot for him seem reasonable despite suggestions he’s still too raw and rough offensively. He broke out of a somewhat quiet Summer League showing with 17 points and connected on all his seven field goals during the Knicks finale against the Bucks.

The Vegas crowd that saw the Sixers and Knicks play each other not only saw Porzingis and Jahlil Okafor, but 6-foot-9 power forward Maurice Ndour, who opened eyes in posting 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. Fisher praised his energy and activity while speaking cautiously about the team’s roster space.

Ndour should garner attention from other teams equally impressed with his activity level. He averaged 3.6 deflections per game, the third-highest rate at Summer League.

Summer League is ripe with ragged play by nature. You can’t bring players together who just met last week, put roster spots and training camp invites on the table and ask for crisp set plays, backdoor cuts, and textbook shooting. It won’t happen—but you will get a glimpse into what the possibilities could be.

The majority of coaches look for intangibles in players anyway—energy plays, leadership, floor IQ, and yes, raw skill and athleticism.

Based on their encouraging Summer League showing the Knicks have some not so easy roster decisions to make. The good news is this: the Knicks are financially flexible. And the youth movement is finally in full swing.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Not in the Hall of Fame

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