Knicks 2022-23 Season Preview

After two weeks of preseason games and practices, the Knicks are finally starting the regular season.

Here are a few things to keep an eye on as New York kicks off the year in Memphis on Wednesday...

WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?

For the Knicks, I think success this season looks like a trip to the play-in tournament and one — or more — of their young players making noticeable progress over the course of the year.

Here’s why: New York used draft capital to shed enough salary to sign Jalen Brunson in free agency in the 2022 offseason. The salary they sent out belonged to players who were signed the previous offseason. So the Knicks, in my view, need to show tangible progress this season. That means more wins than the 37 games New York won last season. They already took one step back last season. If there’s another step back this season, I think it will lead to some organizational changes.

In the offseason, the Knicks had serious discussions with the Utah Jazz to acquire Donovan Mitchell via trade. Ultimately, New York decided not to meet Utah’s asking price. Those discussions showed how much they value their young players. That’s why I think one or two of the younger Knicks needs to show noticeable progress to make 2022-23 a successful year.

Of course, my expectations for the Knicks this season don’t matter. Neither do yours (no offense). The only expectations that truly matter are those held by team governor James Dolan. If Dolan feels the Knicks are showing progress this season, there won’t be any major changes. But I do think Dolan is looking to see tangible progress this season after the Knicks took a step backward in 2021-22.

X-FACTOR: THE SECOND UNIT

It’s hard to overstate how important Derrick Rose is to this team. Rose’s play changed the Knicks’ season in 2020-21, propelling them to the playoffs. His injury last year was one of several factors that derailed the season.

Now, Rose is healthy and seems primed to lead the Knicks’ strong second unit. Tom Thibodeau likes his bench unit of Rose, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein. Quentin Grimes is likely to start the season coming off the bench. If things are going well for New York, Grimes, Rose and the rest of the bench unit will thrive against other teams’ reserves.

Of course, Brunson and the starters need to build and maintain leads, too. But New York won games in 2020-21 on defense, bench play, and an All-NBA season from Julius Randle. If the bench play is near the level it established under Rose two years ago, the Knicks’ depth will be an asset.

ROTATION, ROTATION, ROTATION

A few things to watch with the Knicks’ rotation: Will Cam Reddish crack the regular rotation? What about Miles McBride? Will Toppin get more minutes? Will they come as the result of decreased minutes for Randle?

This team has significant depth – which means Thibodeau has a lot of decisions to make.

One big picture question for New York to answer over the next 12 months: Which player is getting the next long-term contract? RJ Barrett, Brunson, Randle and Mitchell Robinson all have multi-year deals. 

Can the Knicks afford to sign both Quickley and Toppin to extensions? Of course, if New York makes a major trade, that question is irrelevant. You should expect the Knicks to inquire about the price for any top player who becomes available via trade. Whether the club is ultimately willing to spend the assets required to make that kind of trade remains to be seen.