14 guaranteed contracts for, potentially, up to 10 rotation spots put the New York Knicks in a crunch in the summer. It did not make head coach David Fizdale’s job any easier, and that made its way into the preseason.
Each exhibition game tested players for not just the starting lineup but the countless reserve spots. Newcomers like Julius Randle and RJ Barrett were among the top performers, while Elfrid Payton and Dennis Smith Jr. struggled to get their feet underneath them. The latter two, however, will probably find opening night minutes, given the point guard situation.