New York Knicks: 2017-18 season preview

The New York Knicks transition to a new era on and off the court this season. What should fans look forward to in the 2017-18 NBA season?

UPDATE: The Knicks have traded Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Check here for our analysis of the deal and how it affects New York in 2017-18.

The New York Knickerbockers are one of the league’s biggest draws, with the NBA’s best home arena in Madison Square Garden and one of the largest profiles of any team. Stars in New York shine brighter than stars in other cities, and even smaller storylines become marquee headlines if they happen to the Knicks.

Even so, the drama circling around Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks this past season would have captured national attention regardless of the team involved. Somehow Jackson extracted $24 million from Knicks owner Jim Dolan before ruining his way to an early exit. Jackson can now sit on his Montana ranch and enjoy his millions in peace.

Back in the Big Apple, Jackson left this roster in disarray. There are bright spots to be sure — Kristaps Porzingis’ ceiling may be higher than almost any other young player in the league, and reserves Willy Hernangomez and Mindungaus Kuzminskas look to be steals.

But there is also the bloated contract of Joakim Noah, the unresolved tension of Carmelo Anthony still employed by the team, and a complete hole at point guard. The combination of Ramon Sessions, rookie Frank Ntilikina, and second-year combo guard Ron Baker at point guard is the worst such rotation in the league.

As the 2017-18 NBA season approaches, what should the Knicks’ loyal fans have to look forward to? If not optimism, it’s at least a reasonable question of what they should expect from the year. What do the Knicks have before them this season?

2016-17 Vitals

31-51, 3rd in Atlantic Division, 12th in Eastern Conference
104.3 PPG (18th)/108 Opp PPG (23rd)
108.6 Offensive rating (19th) /112.3 Defensive rating (26th)

Team Leaders

Scoring:  Carmelo Anthony, 22.4 PPG
Rebounding:  Joakim Noah, 8.8 RPG
Assists:  Brandon Jennings, 4.9 APG
Steals:  Courtney Lee, 1.1 SPG
Blocks:  Kristaps Porzingis, 2.0 BPG

Team Honors:

All-Rookie First Team:  Willy Hernangomez
All-Star:  Carmelo Anthony