Since the 2013-14 season, the New York Knicks have the second-most losses in the NBA (439) and while they turned things around last season, claiming the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference and making the playoffs for the first-time since 2013, turmoil and frustration is once again setting in for this franchise.
The Knicks currently find themselves just 25-34 this season and they are now a full three games back from the Atlanta Hawks for the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference. Their chances of making the playoffs are dropping quickly and while they still have 23 games left this season, New York does not have an easy stretch of games coming up.
Of their remaining 23 games, 13 of them are against teams with a winning-record and 12 of their remaining games are on the road. According to Tankathon, the Knicks currently own the 4th hardest schedule the rest of the season based on their opponent’s win percentage.
Julius Randle has not looked like the same All-Star talent over the course of the entire season that he was a year ago, R.J. Barrett has missed a handful of games due to injuries and the Knicks’ backcourt has been a complete mess.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Stars The New York Knicks Must Target Moving Forward
Derrick Rose has only played in 26 games due to ankle surgery and Kemba Walker was recently shut down for the remainder of the season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks and Walker agreed that the former All-Star guard will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, allowing him to work out in preparation for the 2022-23 season.
In a statement released by the Knicks on behalf of team president Leon Rose, the team said that they support Kemba Walker’s decision and that his long-term success on the court remains their top priority.
Any chances of salvaging this season seem slim for the Knicks, which is why their attention is not only turned towards the 2022 NBA Draft, but towards free agency and the trade market in the offseason in search of more reliable offensive talents.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Stars The New York Knicks Must Target Moving Forward
Fixing the problems that lie in their backcourt needs to be priority No. 1 for the Knicks and while they would love to add a superstar guard to their roster, the chances of this happening are low given the lack of superstar talent available on the trade market.
They may not be the best options the Knicks can pursue, but these three players each bring something unique to the table for New York and could help them fix their lack of production immediately.
