This is the final edition of our Knicks roster rundown. We've already looked at the team's point guards and wings. The big men are all that remain. In the modern NBA, big men are much less important, with more of a focus on the defensive end of the floor.
We already did an in-depth look at Mitchell Robinson and his progress through two seasons, and noted his improved play defensively after Mike Miller installed a simpler scheme. He is already an excellent rim-running big man that can protect the rim, and as his game expands on both ends, he has All-Star and All-Defense potential. He should be the Knicks starting center next season.
We also took a close look at Julius Randle, who puts up numbers but doesn't contribute enough to winning due to poor defense, instincts and decision making. He has two years left on his three-year $57 million contract, but only $4 million is guaranteed in 2021-2022. His presence and need to have the ball in his hands to ply his trade as a scorer will stunt the growth of the younger players as long as he is on the roster. It will be tough for the Knicks to move his contract.
Bobby Portis was signed to a bloated two-year, $30.75 million contract last summer. Only the first year of the contract was guaranteed, making him a likely candidate to hit the free-agent market this summer. The chances the Knicks pick up his player option are slim to none. Portis gave the Knicks what he has given teams for most of his career: some offensive spark, but little else.
Even though his three-point shooting dropped to 35.8%, his lowest since his sophomore season in 2016-2017, Portis is still a floor-spreader at center. Offensively, he demanded the ball in the post far too often, where the offense stagnated and he wasn't efficient enough. Portis also rarely passed the ball and thought about doing only one thing when he had the ball: Shoot.
Defensively, much like the other big men on the Knicks roster, Portis was helped when his role was simplified as a drop defender in the pick-and-roll under Mike Miller. He was still far from good but he was in the right position more frequently. Portis' biggest problem on defense continues to be his lack of athleticism, which doesn't allow him to protect the rim vertically or stay with quicker players moving side to side.
Veteran Taj Gibson was also added to the roster last summer and started at center next to Randle for most of the season. He played exactly as advertised, even though he isn't as athletic as he used to be, which limited his ability to guard quicker perimeter players or be a shot blocker at the rim. Gibson was still one of the team's most consistent defenders and was always in the right place at the right time, and was very sound.
Offensively, he could hit an occasional jumper and finish put-backs and passes from his teammates at the rim. Off the floor, he was a solid leader and veteran presence the young players could look up to and try to emulate. If there was someone in the front court that was worth emulating for the young players on the roster, it was Taj Gibson.
Gibson signed a two year, $18.5 million dollar contract last summer, but only one million dollars of the second year of the deal is fully guaranteed. He could be a cap casualty this summer, but at only $9 million dollars on his contract next season, he might be worth the bang for the buck depending on what the team's other free agency plans are.
Kenny Wooten is on a two-way contract for the Knicks. The rookie out of Oregon played on the Knicks summer league team before earning a two-way contract a couple months ago. Wooten is extremely raw offensively, but his quick and explosive leaping ability gives him potential as a defender and rim runner at 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds. He is still extremely raw, especially offensively, where he doesn't have much of an offensive game if he isn't able to dunk the ball. He could have a chance to earn his way onto the team next year as a developmental player.
The Knicks are still rebuilding and are in the position where they need to draft the best player available, unless that player is a true big man. Given the position's reduced importance and the skills Mitchell Robinson has shown around the rim at both ends of the floor, picking a center wouldn't make much sense. While a team can play multiple guards or wings at the same time, playing two true big men isn't tenable anymore. The Knicks need to pick the best guard or wing and see where it takes them.
You can follow John on twitter at @Schmeelk for everything Knicks, Giants, and the world of sports.
