The New York Knicks have some quality pieces, but after missing out on the playoffs for the fifth straight season, the front office is under pressure to turn things around sooner rather than later. Things are complicated by Kristaps Porzingis' injury and when that return might be, but as we know in the Eastern Conference, a number of playoff spots are up for grabs every season. Here are three crucial moves the Knicks need to make this offseason if they're going to grab one of those spots next year:
1) Buy into David Fizdale
David Fizdale can coach. He was one of the most well-respected assistant coaches in the league during his time with the Miami Heat and then led the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs in his only full season as head coach there. However, he was fired part of the way into this season because the Grizzlies (namely Marc Gasol) didn't buy into what Fizdale was trying to do - and look where they are now. Fizdale doesn't have a ton of experience but knows what he's doing and the Knicks need to buy in.
2) Hit on their top draft pick
Hitting on your draft picks is key to every rebuild and, even though New York already has something of a solid core in Ntilikina and Porzingis, they really need another option to add to that group. This draft class will give them the opportunity to land a player with that potential at No. 9 overall.
Ideally, Chicago will hope that either Trae Young or Wendell Carter would fall to them as both players have superstar potential in the back half of the top 10, and they're also interested in Michigan State's Miles Bridges. Whoever they pick, New York will need them to contribute in a big way.
3) Land a starter-level free agent
This will be an interesting offseason in terms of restricted free agents. Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, and Aaron Gordon have all proven to be quality forwards in their short careers and all will be restricted free agents this summer - and none of their teams have committed to keeping them. By exploiting this market, the Knicks would be able to land another young member of their core who is capable of being one of their top players - and a quality complement to Porzingis - immediately.
New York can also have the cap space to go after max-contract guys. Of those, DeAndre Jordan is the most likely to sign with New York (LeBron James isn't happening), but expect them to focus their free agency dollars on the restricted market.
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