New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Locks
Given the recent free-agent acquisitions, the New York Knicks’ starting lineup will certainly look different for the 2021-22 NBA season. However, there are already multiple locks within the starting five despite the season being months away.
Kemba Walker
After failing to acquire an All-Star point guard for the past decade, Knicks struggled even more this past season with Elfrid Payton running the offense. But now, they’ll have Kemba Walker at the helm.
Walker, a four-time All-Star, most recently played for the Boston Celtics after spending eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. At his peak, he averaged 25.6 points per game in 2018-19, but last season, that number dipped to 19.3 points per game on .420/.360/.899 shooting splits. He’ll join Julius Randle, who is coming off a career year, as the All-Star caliber guard the Knicks so desperately needed. Walker likely won’t return to scoring 25 points per game, but his addition certainly improves the Knicks at a great discount.
Evan Fournier
Although not the biggest name on the market, the New York Knicks splurged on Evan Fournier to improve the team’s dreadful offense. The wing played for the Orlando Magic and Celtics last season, finishing the season averaging 17.1 points per game on 45.7 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from downtown. Fournier, who will be 29 at the end of October, provides the Knicks with a level of shot-making the team played without last season. With the departure of Reggie Bullock, Fournier will slide into the starting lineup alongside RJ Barrett. The two are interchangeable at the shooting guard and small forward position.
RJ Barrett
Heading into year three in the league, RJ Barrett is positioned to take yet another step in his development. After selecting him No. 3 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Knicks and their fans had high hopes for the shooting guard. And last season, he took a great step forward. He finished the year averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on 44.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3 all while being the second option on the 4-seeded Knicks. Now, with Walker and Fournier added to the mix — as well as retaining a majority of the core — defenders will have to divert attention elsewhere, giving Barrett better looks from the field. Like Fournier, he can swap between the shooting guard and small forward position, so expect those two to line up next to each other.
Julius Randle
Julius Randle was the Knicks’ consolation prize in the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sweepstakes in the 2019 offseason. And while many were upset, it was a great signing and nearly everyone has been proved wrong about the forward. He finished his most impressive season — winning Most Improved Player, becoming a first-time All-Star and being named to the All-NBA Second Team. He led the Knicks in three statistical categories — 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Furthermore, he played 71 of 72 games and led the league in minutes played (Barrett was second) and minutes per game. The downside to last season was his playoff performance. After scoring at a .456/.411/.811 clip in the regular season, the veteran big shot just 29.8 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from distance. With the additions of Walker and Fournier, some pressure should be relieved, but Randle is still expected to be the No. 1 option.