Ranking Knicks’ Priorities for 2024 NBA Free Agency
Ranking Knicks’ Priorities for 2024 NBA Free Agency0 of 3
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The New York Knicks are in the midst of their most exciting NBA playoff run of the last few decades.
You’ll have to forgive us, then, for pausing all of the postseason talk to dig into what awaits this organization during the upcoming offseason. But if you don’t think New York’s decision-makers are already rolling through the decision-making process, then you don’t know how NBA front offices operate.
It’s their job to always look ahead, so we’ll do the same by ranking the top three free-agency priorities ahead of this franchise.
3. Search for Cheap Shooting1 of 3
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The Knicks have some excellent inside-the-arc scorers in Jalen Brunson and (when healthy) Julius Randle. They also get great mileage out of their pick-and-roll game, whether they’re throwing lob passes to Mitchell Robinson or allowing Isaiah Hartenstein to operate out of the short roll.
All of these things require a properly spaced offensive attack, meaning New York should always be on the lookout for extra shooting.
That was the same rationale behind the deadline deal for Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks, neither of whom is a lock to return. Unrestricted free agency awaits Burks, while Bogdanović only has a guarantee on $2 million of his $19 million salary, per Spotrac.
Even if both stick come back, the Knicks might still want to poke around for cheap perimeter shooters. There is no such thing as having too many of them in the modern NBA.
2. Figure Out the Center Rotation2 of 3
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When the Knicks are at full strength, they have the league’s deepest center rotation. That won’t be the case forever.
It may not even be the case in a matter of months, as big changes could be coming to the big-man group.
Isaiah Hartenstein (unrestricted) and Precious Achiuwa (restricted) are both headed for free agency. Jericho Sims could head there, too, if New York declines his $1.9 million team option. And if all three are brought back, the ‘Bockers might need to unload Mitchell Robinson, who’s had yet another season hugely impacted by injuries and has eight-figure salaries on the books for each of the next two campaigns.
New York doesn’t need all of these players, and even if it did, it couldn’t afford to keep this group in its entirety, anyway. The question is where and how the Knicks will make their cuts. Hartenstein has been objectively awesome when called upon this season, but Robinson has been the same when healthy.
1. Re-Sign OG Anunoby3 of 3
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There really isn’t a question of whether the Knicks are re-signing OG Anunoby. They tipped their hat on those intentions the second they sacrificed both Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to pry him away from the Toronto Raptors.
The question is what kind of contract terms will be featured in this agreement. That will be decided at the negotiating table, but just know the numbers will be enormous.
One agent recently opined that four years and $150 million “would be the floor” for Anunoby’s next deal, per The Athletic’s Tim Cato. There’s probably a universe in which Anunoby could even leverage his way into a max deal, especially if he produces a few more signature moments on the postseason stage.
He may not have the numbers of a typical star, but his impact on this Knicks team has been enormous. Including the regular season, New York is 26-5 when he plays.
