What Does the New York Knicks’ Starting Lineup Look Like for the 2020-21 Season?

While the New York Knicks were expected to be more aggressive this offseason, they have opted for a different approach this time. They have not landed any big names from free-agency and have only made minor signings. It looks like the Knicks have made smart moves rather than trying to get huge acquisitions.

The Knicks are known to have a terrible draft record. One could say that most of their picks and existing players’ talents are wasted in New York. This is why they probably got the eighth overall pick this offseason. But to everyone’s surprise, the Knicks landed one of the best draft prospects in Obi Toppin. He was projected to be in the Top. 5 picks but slid down the board.

It looks like the Knicks are keeping most of their core intact with Obi Toppin as a potential franchise game changer.

Predicted New York Knicks starting lineup for 2020-21

Alec Burks

Alec Burks has bounced around a lot in the league. The New York Knicks are his sixth team under three seasons, and he has agreed to a $6 million contract for a year. Burks just had the best shooting seasons of his career. He went 38.5% from the arc with 4.6 attempts per game. His three-point rate has kept on rising all throughout the three seasons.

One can argue that the Knicks are the worst shooting teams in the NBA, so any help in that area is a plus for them. This is what Burks is going to fulfil.

RJ Barrett

Just in a short span of time, Barrett has proved that the Knicks can form a core around him. He has shown that he can score from anywhere on the floor and in his rookie season, he averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebound and 2.6 assists while shooting 40.2 percent from the field. Therefore, he is well placed to be their shooting guard.

Julius Randle

Randle has been one of the top scorers for the franchise. So without question, he is needed as the starter. He has averaged 19.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season. There are certain doubts about Randle that while he may be a talented player, he does not help the Knicks win games. This is an opportunity for Randle to prove otherwise and be the power forward the Knicks are looking for.

Reggie Bullock

Although Reggie has shown inconsistency in his first season with the Knicks, it comes with good reason. He has only recently recovered from a serious injury, and he deserves some more time to prove himself. A healthy Bullock is a great perimeter player for the Knicks. Once Reggie adjusts, he has shown that he can drop three’s with efficiency, which bodes well for them. He is also reliable on the defensive end.

Mitchell Robinson

Robinson has always turned some heads because of his athletic abilities. The 7 foot centre knows how to protect the rim and is an incredibly efficient scorer. He can develop into the franchise’s dominant big. Giving him more minutes on the court will turn him into a more versatile player, and he could grow on the defensive end as well.

With a young talented core, fans will can hope that the Knicks at least land a playoff spot next season.