New York Knicks: 2016-17 Pre-Season Player Power Rankings

Who are the best players on the New York Knicks? Daily Knicks’ Jared Wolff ranks every member of the main roster from one to 15.

Oct 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) celebrates with forward Carmelo Anthony (7) after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 130-103. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks’ 2016-17 NBA regular season will tip off tomorrow night in Cleveland. The Knicks will play the Cavaliers on the same night that New York will receive their championship rings.

It was a busy offseason for the Knicks. New York acquired three new starters—Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose—and a new head coach—Jeff Hornacek.

The roster has been trimmed to 15 and finalized with some tough decisions. That includes the release of impressive young guard Chasson Randle.

Where does each player on the 15-man roster rank? Who is the best player on the Knicks? Who is the worst?

Let’s answer those questions.

Oct 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks guard Sasha Vujacic (18) drives to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

15. Sasha Vujacic, G

In an article written last week, I detailed why the New York Knicks should not have Sasha Vujacic in the rotation this season. Last season, the 32-year-old started 25 games for the Knicks, and averaged 15 minutes per game. Vujacic never got his jump shot going consistently, and was a liability on the defensive end. The coaching staff gave him minutes over younger players, including Jerian Grant. This season I hope Jeff Hornacek sees the player Vujacic truly is at this point of his career, and does not play him over guys like Ron Baker and Justin Holliday.

14. Maurice Ndour, F

Maurice Ndour made his name known during the 2015 Summer League, where he impressed as a member of the Knicks. Last season, Ndour played overseas for Real Madrid. The Knicks gave the 24-year-old a guaranteed contract over the summer, and hope that he will provide energy off of the bench. After the final roster cuts, Hornacek said that Ndour made the team due to his abilities on the defensive side of the ball. The 6’9 forward had a nice preseason in limited action, showing a versatile game on offense and a knack for making plays on defense.

13. Marshall Plumlee, C

After not selecting anyone in the 2016 NBA draft, Marshall Plumlee was one of the top un-drafted players that the Knicks signed. The youngest Plumlee brother out of Duke started a game for the Knicks in the preseason, and showed he can provide a defensive presence and a hard-working offensive player to the roster. The seven-footer could eventually push for backup center minutes, battling with guys like Kyle O’Quinn and Willy Hernangomez.

12. Kyle O’Quinn, C

The minimal impact Kyle O’Quinn had on the Knicks last season was disappointing. I was pretty excited when he signed a four-year deal last offseason. Last season, O’Quinn lost minutes to Kevin Seraphin, only averaging 11.8 minutes per game, scoring 4.8 points and pulling down 3.8 rebounds per contest. The new coaching staff seems to like him, giving him solid minutes in the preseason. If O’Quinn rebounds from a poor 2015-16 season, he provides the Knicks with a tough backup big man who isn’t afraid to be physical.

11. Ron Baker, G

The biggest name from the 2016 draft class that wound up on the Knicks is Ron Baker. A four-year player at Wichita State, Baker provides the Knicks with a young guard off of the bench. Baker averaged 5.8 points per game in the preseason, showing off an impressive all-around game. Baker shot 36.9% from downtown at Wichita State, and averaged 13.2 points per game over his career. I would like to see the 6’4″ guard see minutes off of the bench over Sasha Vujacic.

Oct 8, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Lance Thomas (42) shoots over Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

10. Justin Holiday, G

Who is the only New York Knicks player besides Sasha Vujacic who has an NBA championship ring? That’s right, Justin Holiday. Holiday appeared to be just a throw-in as part of the Derrick Rose trade, but it’s evident he can become more than that. In the final three preseason games, Holiday played major minutes and scored double-figures in each game. The 27-year-old shooting guard has shown an ability to hit the three and provides the Knicks with some length in the backcourt at 6’6″. He’s never been able to consistently be a part of a rotation in the NBA, but this year, that could change.

9. Mindaugas Kuzminskas, F

The Mindaugas Kuzminskas signing was one that flew very under the radar over the summer. The Lithuanian Kuzminskas was given a two-year deal, after playing overseas for the last decade. Kuzminskas was a decorated player overseas and a member of the Lithuanian national team. The preseason gave the 6’8″ swingman a chance to prove himself. On October 15th against Boston, Kuzminskas dropped 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes.

Daily Knicks pegged Kuzminskas as one of the breakout performers from the 2016 NBA preseason. It will be interesting to see the type of minutes he plays early on, but I expect him to impress us this season.

8. Willy Hernangomez, C

Kuzminskas was not the only Knicks rookie who was on Daily Knicks’ list. Willy Hernangomez, the center from Spain, also got recognized. Hernangomez was a teammate of Kristaps Porzingis’ in Spain from 2013 to 2015, and was a second round pick (35th overall) in the same draft. The 22-year-old could not have impressed more in the preseason, as he played his way into the backup center role behind Joakim Noah. The rookie center even drew comparisons to Marc Gasol by Carmelo Anthony. The Spaniard is a good passer, has a nice low-post game, and makes an impact on defense. Hernangomez is going to play a big role for the Knicks this season, and he appears to be up to the task.

7. Lance Thomas, F

Over the past few seasons of New York Knicks basketball, not many players have been more likable than Lance Thomas. The 6’8″ small forward out of Duke is a team-first player and is great on the defensive end. Thomas is not afraid to guard some of the best offensive players in the league, and I expect him to see minutes guarding LeBron James in the season opener. Last season for the Knicks, Thomas played 22.3 minutes per game, shot 40.4 percent from deep, and averaged 8.2 points per game. The team rewarded the 27 year old role-player with a four year deal worth around $27 million. Thomas is going to see a lot of minutes off the bench during this upcoming season.

6. Brandon Jennings, G

After signing a one-year deal in July, Brandon Jennings has quickly become a fan-favorite with the Knicks. It has to do with his busy Twitter account (@brandonjennings), his competitiveness on the court, and his dance moves agains the Brooklyn Nets.

Jennings was once of the more exciting young point guards in the league after being selected 10th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Just two seasons ago, Jennings averaged 15.4 points per game before tearing his achilles.

The 27 year old appears to be healthy, and could be a contender for Sixth Man of the Year if he plays the way he did in the preseason.

Oct 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson (3) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 130-103. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

5. Derrick Rose, G

Derrick Rose has yet to play in a regular season game for the New York Knicks, but he has already gone through a lot. Just a few days ago, Rose was cleared in a civil rape trial that kept him from playing for most of the preseason. It will be interesting to see how the Knicks use Rose early on in the season.

He’s the starting point guard, but can he handle big minutes after missing all of this time? With all of his past injuries, Rose was able to play in 66 games last year for the Bulls. Rose averaged 16.4 points per contest and played 31.8 minutes per game. The former NBA MVP still appears to have something left in the tank, it will just be a matter of how many games he’s able to play. The three-time All-Star is still just 28 years old.

4. Courtney Lee, G

Personally, I believe Courtney Lee was the best signing of the Knicks’ offseason. Phil Jackson inked Lee to a four-year deal to make him the starting shooting guard of the Knicks. Lee provides a quality wing defense, good three point shooting, and a high-character presence. Lee shot 38.4 percent from three last season and averaged 9.6 points per game. The guard appears ready for the season, as in the preseason finale against the Nets he had 15 points and five rebounds. Look for Lee to become a fan favorite at the Garden.

3. Joakim Noah, C

Did the Knicks overpay for Joakim Noah? Yes. Did the Knicks give him too many years? Yes. Was it a bad signing? No. I believe Noah can have a major impact on the Knicks this upcoming season. The two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year is going to have to anchor this Knicks team on the defensive end of the floor. If healthy, Noah and Porzingis should form a very formidable low-post defensive combo. Noah was only able to play in 29 games a season ago, and has already had injury issues with the Knicks. Even more so than Rose, the Knicks need Joakim Noah to stay healthy.

2. Kristaps Porzingis, F

Do we really need to talk much about Kristaps Porzingis? His game speaks for itself. The Latvian big man had a great rookie campaign, averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. Porzingis finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

In year two, Porzingis is set to become a star. In the preseason, he has shown improved ball-handling, new offensive moves, and an even more intimidating presence on defense.

This guy is the future and the present of the Knicks franchise. At only 21 years old, the sky is the limit for Kristaps Porzingis.

1. Carmelo Anthony, F

Not many players in the NBA draw such different opinions than Carmelo Anthony. Some say he’s overrated, not a winner, and a ball-hog. Others say he’s one of the most dominating offensive players of this generation, who does not get enough credit. It was certainly an interesting summer for Anthony. He won his record-breaking third gold medal, and made headlines with his stances on different political issues.

Anthony is 32 years old, but has really shown no signs of slowing down.

With more talent around him, and a new coach, I expect a big year from Carmelo Anthony.