New York Knicks: 2019-20 NBA season preview
Best-case scenario
In the best case for the New York Knicks, they will finally show improvement and take steps to become a respectable franchise once again. They have several veterans who will help improve the team on the court and they should easily surpass their win total from last season.
Barrett will emerge as a legitimate franchise cornerstone and challenge for the Rookie of the Year award. Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina start putting things together, looking more like lottery talents than busts. Dennis Smith Jr. comes into training camp in the best shape of his life and takes the reins as the starting point guard.
As the centerpiece in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, he hones his athleticism and rounds out the rest of his game.
David Fizdale gets to showcase his coaching talent and gets the team to buy into his vision. The veterans help the team remain competitive and the front office takes full advantage and can flip some of the pieces for more draft picks to help push the rebuild forward. The young core becomes more clear so the front office knows who to truly develop around.
Breaking the season win total set by bookmakers and approach 30 victories would be a step in the right direction for the organization, showing free agents they are finally heading in the right direction.
Worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario for the New York Knicks would be the front office inaccurately assessing the roster. They should continue collecting assets to help brighten the future of the team, not make any short-sighted moves that could put that in danger.
The young guys not establishing themselves would be discouraging as well. Trading away someone such as Frank Ntilikina without giving him a chance following his FIBA World Cup performance would be disappointing. Kevin Knox is young, but that no longer is an excuse if he plays as poorly in 2019-20 as he did in 2018-19.
Dennis Smith Jr. can’t stay healthy and the Dallas Mavericks make a deep run in the postseason, worsening the picks they are sending to New York.
Veterans get upset with their roles, setting a bad tone for the season. Disgruntled veterans will make for an ugly locker room situation, setting a poor example for the team’s younger players to follow. Things are worsened by the continual losing.
Fizdale is unable to replicate any semblance of the success he had with the Memphis Grizzlies and his seat gets hotter and hotter as the season goes on. Mike D’Antoni is the last head coach to last for more than two full seasons on the sidelines at MSG and if a repeat of 2018-19 occurs, it could remain that way.