Knicks offseason recap: New faces, new issues
With the bulk of NBA free agency in the books, USA TODAY Sports explores how all the offseason moves will alter each team as we look ahead to the 2016-17 season.
What do you think the starting five of your favorite team should be? Head over to @usatodaynba on Twitter and tell us.
Projected starting five: New York Knicks
(Statistics from 2015-16 season)
- Derrick Rose (with Chicago) - Points: 16.4, assists: 4.7, rebounds: 3.4, steals: 0.7, field goal percentage: 42.7%
- Courtney Lee (with Memphis and Charlotte) - Points: 9.6, rebounds: 2.6, assists: 1.7, steals: 1.1, field goal percentage: 45.4%
- Carmelo Anthony - Points: 21.8, rebounds: 7.7, assists: 4.2, steals: 0.9, field goal percentage: 43.4%
- Kristaps Porzingis - Points: 14.3, rebounds: 7.3, assists: 1.3, blocks: 1.9, field goal percentage: 42.1%
- Joakim Noah (with Chicago; 29 games) - Points: 4.3, rebounds: 8.8, assists: 3.8, blocks: 1.0, field goal percentage: 38.3%
Added - Noah, Rose, Lee, Jeff Hornacek (head coach), Lance Thomas (re-signed), Sasha Vujacic (re-signed), Brandon Jennings, Justin Holiday, Willy Hernangomez, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Maurice Ndour
Lost - Kurt Rambis (head coach), Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez, Langston Galloway, Jose Calderon, Kevin Seraphin, Jerian Grant, Derrick Williams, Cleanthony Early (unsigned), Lou Amundson (unsigned)
Biggest acquisition - Noah
Two subpar, injury-riddled seasons and a shoulder surgery ago, Noah was the Defensive Player of the Year and a legitimate MVP candidate with 12.6-point, 11.3-rebound, 5.4-assist averages, sitting comfortably in the upper echelon of NBA bigs. Oh, how we soon forget. Fast-forward to today, the once-elite 31-year-old has an opportunity to rejuvenate his career as a key member of this oh-so-intriguing Knicks squad. That is, of course, if he can stay healthy and fully embrace his role.
Biggest departure - Lopez
A top-tier offensive rebounder and rim protector, Lopez played well in his first season as the starting center in New York, averaging 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. But if adding Noah pans out, Lopez's departure — he was sent to Chicago as part of a package with Calderon and Grant for Rose, Holiday and a draft pick — should be no biggie.
X factor - Health
Although the Knicks are light-years away from the "super team" status that Rose thinks they're capable of reaching, there's no denying this team's on-paper talent. But until Rose, Noah and Jennings — who missed a combined 103 games last season — fend off the injury bug and translate that talent to the court, the future of this Knicks squad is still very much up in the air.
Offseason grade - B-
Check out our other offseason recaps: Atlanta • Boston • Brooklyn • Charlotte • Chicago • Cleveland • Dallas • Denver • Detroit • Golden State • Houston• Indiana • L.A. Clippers • L.A. Lakers • Memphis • Miami • Milwaukee • Minnesota • New Orleans
Follow AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK