Eight burning questions for the Knicks this off-season

The off-season technically begins on April 11. Thank God the New York Knicks’ season is finally almost over.

It’s almost over.

Thank God the New York Knicks’ season is finally almost over. And yet, I know I’ll miss not seeing the Knicks play games that count for another six months.

The good news though is that the off-season technically begins on April 11!

So without further ado, I present eight important questions the Knicks will be presented with this summer.

What do the Knicks do with Jeff Hornacek?

It’s no secret that Hornacek isn’t exactly the most beloved head coach when it comes to the Knicks fan base. In fairness to Hornacek, he’s coached a roster comprised of two front offices and dealt with significant injuries to his two best players. However, Hornacek’s lineups and rotations have made little sense, he’s made poor in-game adjustments, he’s reportedly clashed with players and he’s preached defense while giving the team’s worst defenders consistent minutes.

It makes sense that the front office may want to part ways with Hornacek and sign a head coach of their own choosing. With that said, the front office interacts with Hornacek more than those outside the organization. They see Hornacek the coach as well as Hornacek the person. We don’t get that kind of access. And considering how the Knicks play in a market where much of the beat reports on sensationalism, it’s hard for fans to accurately assess Hornacek as a whole.

Does Enes Kanter opt in or out?

It’s up to the soon-to-be 26-year old to determine what’s more important — a short term payday or long term stability?

If Kanter opts in, do the Knicks look to move him? Kanter should only be moved if the Knicks can maintain cap space in summer 2019 and/or receive a player or a draft pick in return. His expiring contract should be as valuable to the Knicks as it would be for other teams.

The problem is that Kanter’s only substantial asset is that he’s on an expiring contract. Yes, he is a skilled rebounder, but his double-doubles are empty calories. The cons outweigh the pros: he costs far too much, he’s a poor defender, he’s not athletic, he’s not a versatile player and he can’t space the floor. Kanter has the fifth-worst defensive field goal percentage in the NBA this year. Of the four players on this list worse than Kanter, three (Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Love and Nikola Jokic) are shooting at least 39% from three-point range. And the difference between Kanter and Nikola Vucevic is that if Kanter opts in, he will earn almost $6 million more than Vucevic for similar (albeit poor) production.

Who might the Knicks draft in June?

The Knicks are currently in ninth place in the reverse standings. Thanks to the Chicago Bulls-Brooklyn Nets matchup tonight, if the Knicks lose both of their remaining games to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it is mathematically impossible for New York to finish lower than tied for eighth. A coin flip will then determine draft seeding.

New York should draft the best player available as long as the players can fit together. For example, Mo Bamba oozes potential, especially on the defensive end. If Bamba is magically on the board when the Knicks are set to pick, drafting a rim protector who is a poor passer and shot poorly from three-point range may not be the best fit next to the team’s franchise rim protector in Kristaps Porzingis, whose passing (while having shown signs of improvement) is below average.

This is why a wing likely makes the most sense. New York does need overall talent but the team’s best small forwards are also Troy Williams and Lance Thomas. The Knicks are projected to have little cap space, and while a trade is a possibility, drafting a wing with the first round pick would be the best way for New York to address the small forward position in the short term and the long term. Yet if the team feels another big or a ball-handler can complement Porzingis better than any wing on the board, New York shouldn’t draft a wing sheerly out of need.

What does Courtney Lee’s future look like?

Lee has been a consummate professional through this rebuild. He has used his veteran status to guide a team chock full of younger players. He’s a quality shooter who would benefit any and every locker room in the NBA.

The problem is that Lee will be 33 years old next year and the Knicks could have four players in Tim Hardaway Jr., Frank Ntilikina, Damyean Dotson and Ron Baker who might see time at the 2. Given Lee’s age and height (6'5"), it wouldn’t be ideal for him to guard bigger and stronger starting small forwards like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard (who the Knicks still shouldn’t trade for, by the way).

It’s up to the Knicks to determine what’s more valuable in a Lee deal, future cap space or a draft pick? If Lee were on an expiring deal, he would fetch a decent return. However, trading a future asset for multiple years of a player entering his mid-30s and earning roughly $12 million a year isn’t that enticing for other teams.

Will New York re-sign Kyle O’Quinn?

O’Quinn is expected to decline his player option and enter unrestricted free agency. He’s a stronger defender and passer than Kanter, and given the surplus of big men available in the draft and in free agency, the Knicks should look to retain O’Quinn at a discount.

The problem is that if Kanter does return and is not traded, the Knicks will have over $43 million owed next season to three big men in Kanter, Noah and Kristaps Porzingis. Why should New York invest more money in another center? Besides, it’s not solely up to the Knicks to re-sign O’Quinn either. O’Quinn is from New York and has stated he loves being a Knick, but an excess of centers in New York and another lost season with Porzingis on the shelf could be reasons for O’Quinn to leave.

What will happen with Joakim Noah?

Assuming the Knicks part with Hornacek, it would make sense to bring back Joakim Noah. The 33-year old center is under contract for two additional seasons at $18,530,000 and $19,295,000, respectively.

The best thing for the Knicks to do is play Noah because his value cannot be any worse than it is now. He’s an employee of the Knicks and should report to training camp in the best shape of his life. If Noah decides he wants to play elsewhere, he can agree to a buyout.

Using the stretch provision on Noah after September 1 would mean the Knicks incur almost $6.5 million in dead cap space for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons. Stretching Noah, especially in September of this year, would be a mistake. While the Knicks could have around $30 million coming off the books in summer 2019 with Noah under contract, harming future cap space to get out of past mistakes for the chance to sign a big name free agent wouldn’t be wise. Should the Knicks have a verbal agreement with a star next June, stretching Noah could become more plausible. New York could also retain more cap space if they trade him when he’s on an expiring contract and attach a draft pick. It’s a sticky situation and the team shouldn’t do anything rash right now.

Will the Knicks offer Porzingis a contract extension?

We can all agree that the Knicks’ chances at contention depend on the health and success of Porzingis. He will be a restricted free agent in 2019 and the Knicks must decide when to offer him a contract.

On one hand, New York should pay the man. The team can show it’s committed to Porzingis, torn ACL and all, by finally signing its first player off his rookie contract since Charlie Ward received an extension in 1999.

Yet on the other hand, what better way to show Porzingis you want to build around him than by delaying the extension a year, therefore saving over $10 million in cap space so you can sign a player who can help make the Knicks better? Isn’t winning what Porzingis wants most of all? After all, his brother and agent Janis said this last year:

Because money — if Kristaps performs at least on his normal level, is gonna come. We are more focused on some other values and not just to quickly sign a new contract so we can collect the money. That’s definitely not our goal, so we won’t be feverishly counting minutes or counting points.

So if it’s not about the money, why not wait a year and let New York try to add more talent?

Who’s starting at point guard next season?

Barring any trades, the two best point guards on the Knicks will be Trey Burke and Ntilikina.

Burke’s redemption season was a joy to watch. He has averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists per game on 50.7/36.6/64.2 shooting. The biggest reason for Burke’s success this season has been his mid-range shooting. Burke is shooting 55% from mid-range this season, which is second-best in the NBA. This simply isn’t sustainable… or is it? The Knicks as a team has the third-most midrange shots this season. What happens if New York brings in a new head coach who emphasizes fewer midrange shots? What if Burke’s torrid streak cools down in between seasons?

Ntilikina, on the other hand, had a woeful season offensively but was stellar on defense. The fact that he was the second-best pick-and-roll ball-handler defender in the entire league as a teenager speaks volumes. This summer he needs to get bigger, stronger and more assertive on offense while honing his jump shot.

The two should battle it out in training camp but it’ll probably be time to take the training wheels off for Ntilikina. Not to mention the uproar that would take place if the Knicks had their 2017 first round pick come off the bench for the second season in a row.