Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
STARTER: Evan Fournier
DEPTH: Quentin Grimes, Cam Reddish
Evan Fournier heard constant boos from the Knicks crowd throughout his first season in New York and his lack of defensive awareness caused Thibodeau to bench him. He is likely a placeholder for talented wing Quentin Grimes.
Grimes is rumored to be valued higher than Barrett around the NBA because of his ability to defend and shoot the three better. For what it’s worth, the Knicks will likely have to part with Grimes if they do want Mitchell, but it remains to be seen if that trade will materialize.
The Knicks acquired Cam Reddish last season but did not give him much of a chance on the court. He can catch fire from the perimeter, but his lack of defensive IQ is probably what’s holding him back from seeing more playing time. With his 7-foot-1 wingspan and athleticism, Reddish can be a better defender, but we have yet to see it.
