2018-19 New York Knicks

2017-18: 29-53
Draft picks: (9-ish), 37
Signed for next season ($99.9m): C Enes Kanter, PF Joakim Noah, PG Tim Hardaway, SG Courtney Lee, PG Lance Thomas, PF Kristaps Porzingis, PG Ron Baker, PG Emmanual Mudiay, C Kyle O'Quinn, PG Frank Nkilitina, PG Trey Burke, PF Damyean Dotson

This summer's free agents: Jarret Jack, Michael Beasley, Troy Williams, Luke Kornet, Isiah Hicks

They may invite Beasley back (if Beasley struggles to hook on somewhere else, there's a 50/50 chance that the Knicks wildly overpay him), Kornet and Hicks are on 2-way deals and Williams will be a low cost option whether for the Knicks or someone else. Surely they're not bringing back Jack.

The Knicks still need a new coach, too. I gotta feeling it'll be Mark Jackson, but I wouldn't be surprised if Doc Rivers becomes available (with Austin in tow?). Expect them to make noise about Jay Wright of Villanova (he's way too smart for that, though occasional flirtation is how a guy like Wright gets a raise). I think David Blatt would be an interesting choice.

I think their biggest roster consideration is that Kanter and O'Quinn both have Player Options this summer and Joakim Noah still sucks. Seems like they could really use a big guy out of this draft. They could be in line for Mohammad Bamba (Texas) or Wendell Carter (Duke). Or if they feel confident about retaining their big guys, maybe they go after perimeter scoring with Collin Sexton (Alabama) or Mikal Bridges (Villanova). That 2nd round pick could yield Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State), might be nice addition to the mix.

If Kanter and O'Quinn do opt out it will leave the Knicks enough money to shower Deandre Jordan in riches (is a Porzingis-Deandre line warming your cockles?). They've supposedly long had an interest in Derrick Favors, is this the year? If the Knicks retain Kanter they'd still have room for Danny Green or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope; or if O'Quinn leaves they could go after Alex Len or Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel. The Knicks will need to sign someone, those New York teams are determined to spend more money than they have, so its a matter of star power--or at least pretending like the next Courtney Lee is actually the next Earl the Pearl.

For now: they don't have the money to bring in any of the big big stars. But they'll bring in somebody and pretend like he's the one. (He won't be) This is Porzingis's team and as long as the box office keeps cha-ching-ing, then the Knicks don't really have to be any good. So why bother? I expect if Prozingis stays healthy, that alone will put them in the 30-35 W's range next year. And that's probably fine for now.