NBA Playoff Obituary: The New York Knicks are back

Now that the New York Knicks season has come to an end, it is time to write the obituary for the 2020-2021 seasons that was. Looking back on each team that made the playoffs will give a chance to look at what went right and what went wrong. It will also allow us to look ahead to what’s to come during the offseason to come.

This year was the first step in a new direction for the New York Knicks. But where do they go from here to capitalize on the momentum?

The Knicks stopped being the long-standing joke around the league and returned to relevance. As a plucky underdog with a new coach and a burgeoning All-NBA talent, there is finally something to talk about in New York without cracking jokes. As the first step in a new direction, 2020-2021 was a strong start.

What Happened

Everything about the postseason is gravy for New York. Coming into the season with no expectations has that effect on things. The Knick came into the first season of the Leon Rose-Tom Thibodeau experience with tempered expectations, to say the least. They indicated they expected to be able to win immediately but there was no defensive foundation for Thibodeau to build on.

Turns out, his coaching brings that development almost immediately. A season ago the Knicks finished 23rd in defensive rating and after one year of a new philosophy, they jumped all the way up to fourth. Nerlens Noel was an anchor for the defense with young big man Mitchell Robinson missing much of the season (limited to just 31 games this year).

Julius Randle took a transformational leap this season, averaging career-highs across the board of 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. He transformed the identity of the Knicks and helped second-year prospect RJ Barrett develop further as an ancillary scorer. He also developed as a team defender and closed the gap between himself and his fellow top three draft picks from 2019. Rookie Immanuel Quickley showed promise and the trade for Derrick Rose helped push the Knicks all the way into a home-court playoff team.

What Comes Next

Now comes the fun part. The Knicks made the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade and enter the summer with plenty of cap space to try to continue to build the roster around Randle and Barrett. Randle is partially guaranteed for next season and could be extended to secure the future after making an All-Star appearance, but the Knicks could benefit from looking elsewhere in the meantime to bring in an influx of talent.

New York has just $54.8 million in committed salary next season with Derrick Rose, Frank Ntilikina, Alec Burks, Elfrid Payton, Nerlens Noel, Reggie Bullock, Taj Gibson and Theo Pinson coming off the books. There is also a team option to consider for Robinson ($1.8 million). Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard will be some of the glitzier targets but they should not limit themselves to just the top of the market. Lonzo Ball is tailor-made for the roster in place. DeMar DeRozan has taken major strides as a playmaker.

The Knicks also enter the summer with 19th, 21st and 58th picks in the draft. For the first time in years, there is actual optimism and momentum around the New York Knicks. They are primed for change and success. The fun is just beginning.