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New York Knicks: 3 players they should bring back next season

By Orestis Rantis

MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 25: Noah Vonleh #32, and Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks help Emmanuel Mudiay #1 of the New York Knicks up during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 25, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 25: Noah Vonleh #32, and Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks help Emmanuel Mudiay #1 of the New York Knicks up during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 25, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images /

The New York Knicks are currently undergoing a tanking season, but there may be a few names worth hanging on to in free agency this summer.

By pulling the trigger on the Kristaps Porzingis trade just days before the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, the New York Knicks made it perfectly clear that they have shifted their focus to the 2019 free agency class.

This basically means that the current roster is set to be modified accordingly, in order to ensure that one or perhaps two superstars sign with the Knicks. The Porzingis trade was a page-turner for the team, though they might not be done just yet.

This season has not been pretty for Knicks fans. A record of 13-50 is good enough for the last place in the Eastern Conference and near-last in the NBA as a whole. They’ve been battling the Phoenix Suns for quite some time now, in a private competition also known as Zion Cup.

But throughout these hard months of very mediocre basketball, some players have provided a positive spark and could have reserved their spot on the roster for the long run. Head coach David Fizdale made it perfectly clear from the beginning that no starting spot was set.

This allowed role players to receive more and more minutes, ultimately being named as starters. On the other side, some players that used to spend much time on the court like Lance Thomas and Frank Ntilikina now struggle to crack into the rotation.

The priority will be preserving cap space for star free agents, but there are a few candidates who might be re-signed for cheap. Bearing that in mind, here are three players that have exceeded expectations and deserve a long-term contract with the New York Knicks.

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