The New York Knicks play their first summer league game in Las Vegas on Saturday. It will be an important summer league for the Knicks with two years worth of draft picks and signed undrafted free agents playing on the team. Throw in the chance to get a taste of what David Fizdale is looking for as a coach and it should be a fun handful of games in the desert. Here's what you should be watching for:
1. Frankly? Progress!
Even though Frank Ntilikina didn't get as much playing time as he should have under Jeff Hornacek last season, he received more than enough playing time that he should come into training camp with a lot of confidence. David Fizdale stressed to the Knicks beat reporters in Las Vegas on Wednesday that he is trying to convince Ntilikina to be more aggressive offensively by penetrating and creating looks for himself and his teammates that way. Summer league is the perfect setting for him to show off his new confidence and approach.
While an altered approach and more aggressive attitude would certainly be beneficial, there are also skills Ntilikina needs to improve upon. The most important is shooting. After being a low volume 40% shooter in France, he struggled last year and shot just 36% from the field and 32% from three. He was better off the dribble than in catch-and-shoot situations last year, but he needs to be better at both, especially catch-and-shoot three pointers.
He also needs to show a more consistent handle that allows him to get from point A to point B. It's tough for him at 6'6 with long arms to keep his dribble as low as it needs to be, but it can improve as he works on it. Despite playing in the league for a year, he'll only turn 20 at the end of July. There's still a lot of room for growth and it would be nice to see some of it in Las Vegas this year. If those skills get better and he maintains his defensive skills and court vision he will be a good player in the league for a long time.
2. Does Knox Have the Knack?
Everyone saw enough from Kevin Knox at Kentucky to know what he can do well. He can shoot from mid-range off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot scenarios very well. He is a smooth athlete. Now it is time to see if he can do all the things he and the Knicks claim he can do, but didn't show with the Wildcats.
Can he consistently show effort on defense and on the boards? Can he run screen and roll as the ball handler and create for himself and others? Does he have the athleticism to get around people as a penetrator and the athleticism to finish at the basket? I also want to see how naturally his shooting stroke extends back to the NBA three point range.
Knox's physical traits are impressive, but the summer league is also very physical and he'll be playing against older and stronger players. Can he show that same toughness coach Fizdale said he showed in his three-on-three workout with the Knicks?
3. Dot those I's!
Damyean Dotson will have a big opportunity to show the Knicks he belongs in Fizdale's rotation this year as a wing. At 6'6 and 205 pounds and plenty strong as a 24 year old, he should be able to show he is further ahead of a lot of the young guys in Las Vegas. For Dotson, it will be about his three point shooting, defense and decision making. A strong showing by Dotson might make the Knicks even more eager to move Courtney Lee.
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4. Trier Tryout
Allonzo Trier is on a two-way contract for the Knicks this season and he might be the go-to scorer on the summer league team. An efficient scorer at Arizona (50% FG, 38% 3PT, 87% FT) he dropped in the draft due to two PED suspensions at Arizona. He'll be able to show the Knicks if his scoring can translate to a more physical game against better athletes. It might be even more important for him to show Fizdale that he can defend well enough to earn minutes this season.
5. Super Sophomores
Luke Kornet is back on a NBA contract this year, and the Knicks will hope he'll continue to show the three point shooting and shot blocking he did with the big club last year. Fizdale and the front office will be more interested to see how he does as a rebounder and a perimeter defender if he switches on any pick and rolls.
Isaiah Hicks is the other returning sophomore on a two-way contract, and he'll want to show exactly where he fits in at the NBA level. At 6'9 and 233 pounds he was foul prone last season and didn't show the ability to stretch the floor or rim run that you need from a modern NBA power forward.
6. The Young Vet
Undrafted in 2016, Troy Williams is still just 23 years old and is trying to find his way in the NBA. The D-League's slam dunk champion back in 2017, he is certainly athletic enough to play in the NBA but he needs to show that he has developed his other skills to make it as a NBA Player. Shooting is primary among them. Being a ball handler and something other than a straight line driver is another. It's hard for someone like Williams to make it in the league if they do not hit threes and defend. Williams will try to show he can do those things.
7. Coaching
Finally, while Mike Miller (the Westchester Knicks head coach) is the head coach of the summer league team, he will be coaching them under the direction of Fizdale, who is at all the practices. It will be everyone's first taste of what he wants to do offensively and defensively. I would expect a lot if running, three point shots, and pressure defense. We'll see if expectations meet reality.
It isn't all that important, but I would also expect the Knicks to win a lot of games in Vegas. They have a team with a lot of experience and they should excel in Summer League. It should be a lot of fun to watch.
You can follow me at twitter.com/schmeelk for everything Knicks, Giants and the world of sports.
