The New York Knicks selected RJ Barrett with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NBA draft as their roster starts to solidify. The Knicks are hoping to also add a marquee player like Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard via free agency.
Here is a look at the Knicks projected starting lineup and roster. Keep in mind this will look different after the draft and free agency. We will be updating the depth chart as the Knicks make more draft selections. The Knicks’ free agents are also noted with “FA” after their names, per Real GM.
New York Knicks Roster & Projected Starting Lineup 2019-20
C: DeAndre Jordan (FA), Mitchell Robinson, Noah Vonleh (FA), Luke Kornet (FA)
PF: Kevin Knox, Lance Thomas, Henry Ellenson (FA), Isaiah Hicks (FA)
SF: Mario Hezonja (FA)
SG: R.J. Barrett, Alonzo Trier, John Jenkins (FA)
PG: Dennis Smith Jr., Emmanuel Mudiay (FA), Frank Ntilikina, Kadeem Allen, Kyle Guy, Billy Garrett (FA)
Barrett made no secret about the fact that he wanted to play for the Knicks. Prior to the draft, the former Duke shooting guard detailed why he wanted to play in Madison Square Garden.
“It would mean a lot,” Barrett explained to the New York Post. “My late grandfather, rest in peace, he was the biggest Knicks fan. He always told me I’d play for the Knicks. So it would mean a lot for me to play for the team…It would be great [to play at Madison Square Garden]. I played there once [in December against Texas Tech]. And it was such a crazy environment. The lights are really bright there. Everything is great there…I feel like that would be a challenge that I’m willing to accept. If the Knicks pick me, you give everything you got every game and work my butt off and put them on the winning track.”
Barrett comes from basketball royalty as his godfather is legendary NBA point guard Steve Nash. Barrett’s father is also the head of Canadian basketball. Nash spoke with The Undefeated about what NBA fans can expect from Barrett.
“You realize that where I got is hard to project on anyone,” Nash told The Undefeated. “But he has every chance to be as good as a player or better. Will he win two MVPs? That is not a fair thing to say, because so much of that is on circumstance and situation. You never know.”
It will be interesting to see who the Knicks are able to pair with Barrett via free agency. The Knicks may have suffered a huge blow with Durant’s Achilles injury as New York is the favorite to land KD in free agency. If the Knicks still end up signing Durant, it could give Durant a year to have the keys to the offense.
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Knicks Roster & Starting Lineup With RJ Barrett for 2019-20