For the second straight year, the Knicks were eliminated in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
A season after falling to the Heat in six games, they were knocked out by the Pacers in seven.
The Post’s Zach Braziller takes a look, player by player, at how the team performed:
Donte DiVincenzo
2023-24 stats: 15.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 40.1 3-point FG
Contract status: Three years left at just under $12 million per season
The breakdown: It was a career year for the former Villanova star, setting career-highs in scoring, 3-point percentage, games played and minutes at the age of 27.
After beginning the year as a reserve, he became a starter and became the franchise’s record holder for most made 3-point shots in a season with 283.
Julius Randle
2023-24 stats: 24.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 47.2% FG
Contract status: One year left at $30.32 million with a player option for $32.41 million in 2025-26
The breakdown: An All-Star for the third time in four seasons, Randle was enjoying another stellar year before suffering a dislocated right shoulder on Jan. 27.
He rehabbed it for two months, hoping to return for the playoffs, but ended up needing surgery.
The Knicks certainly could have used him against the Pacers.
Josh Hart
2023-24 stats: 9.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 31% 3-point FG
Contract status: Three years left at $19.51 million per season, plus a team option for $22.37 million in 2027-28
The breakdown: No player on this roster better illustrated the toughness of the Knicks like the do-it-all guard.
Bothered by an abdominal strain in Game 7 against the Pacers, he still played 37 minutes, and is currently second among all players in the postseason in rebounds behind only MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets.
2023-24 stats: 27.7 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.6 RPG, 40.1% 3-point FG
Contract status: One year left at $24.96 million, plus a player option for $24.96 million in 2025-26
The breakdown: Since Brunson’s arrival two years ago, the Knicks have won two rounds in the playoffs and averaged 48.5 regular-season wins.
Forget the outstanding numbers, and there are many of those, Brunson has changed the franchise with his selfless attitude, grinder’s work ethic and dogged determination.
OG Anunoby
2023-24 stats: 14.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 39.4% 3-point FG
Contract status: Player option for next season at $19.93 million
The breakdown: A perfect fit with the Knicks, Anunoby was the court-spacing, lockdown wing defender they desperately needed. Upon his arrival from the Raptors on Dec. 30, the Knicks went 26-6 when Anunoby was healthy, including the playoffs.
They may still be playing had he not suffered a left hamstring strain in Game 2 against the Pacers.
The Knicks outscored the opposition by 21.7 points per 100 possessions in the 23 games Anunoby played in during the regular season.
Mitchell Robinson
2023-24 stats: 5.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 57.5% FG
Contract status: Two years left at $13.64 million per season.
The breakdown: When healthy, Robinson is a rim-protecting, offensive-rebounding force.
The problem is the aforementioned health
He only appeared in 31 regular-season games this year, then missed the second round of the playoffs due to a stress fracture in his left ankle that required surgery.
Availability is a skill Robinson has yet to master.
Miles McBride
2023-24 stats: 8.3 PPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 RPG, 41.0% 3-point FG
Contract status: Three years left at $4.33 million
The breakdown: The acquisition of OG Anunoby, which sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors, created a role for McBride, and the young guard took advantage of the opportunity.
An improved shooter and strong defender, McBride established himself as a key part of the second unit, and was even better in the postseason.
His contract is a bargain.
Alec Burks
2023-24 stats: 6.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 30.1% 3-point FG
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
The breakdown: The veteran guard didn’t produce as expected in the regular season after he was acquired from the Pistons prior to the trade deadline.
But he did give the Knicks a much-needed offensive jolt once injuries hit in the second round of the playoffs, averaging 14.8 points against the Pacers.
Isaiah Hartenstein
2023-24 stats: 7.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 64.4% FG
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
The breakdown: By far his best season as a pro.
The 7-foot Hartenstein set personal bests in starts, steals and rebounds, showing his value at both ends of the floor.
He would be a critical free-agency loss.
Jericho Sims
2023-24 stats: 2.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.4 BPG, 69.1% FG
Contract status: Team option for next year worth just under $.2.1 million
The breakdown: A step back for the athletic but limited big man, who was unseated on coach Tom Thibodeau’s depth chart by Precious Achiuwa and barely played in the postseason.
Shake Milton
2023-24 stats: 1.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 44.4% FG
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
The breakdown: Part of the deal with the Pistons that included Alec Burks and Bojan Bodganovic, Milton never carved out a role for himself with the Knicks.
Bojan Bogdanovic
2023-24 stats: 10.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.9 APG, 37.0% 3-point FG
Contract status: One year left at just over $19 million
The breakdown: The sharpshooting veteran struggled during the regular season following the trade to the Knicks, but he was starting to show his shotmaking value early in the postseason before a season-ending left foot injury in Game 4 against the 76ers.
Precious Achiuwa
2023-24 stats: 7.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 52.5% FG
Contract status: Restricted free agent
The breakdown: An afterthought at the time of the Anunoby deal, Achiuwa was an important depth piece, emerging as an option off the bench due to injuries to Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson.
Jacob Toppin
2023-24 stats: 1.4 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.3 APG
Contract status: Restricted free agent
The breakdown: Obi Toppin’s younger brother remains a developmental project whose future may be elsewhere.
Daquan Jeffries
2023-24 stats: 7.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 52.5% FG
Contract status: Team option for next year
The breakdown: A 26-year-old wing who has been with the Knicks in some capacity since 2022.
Jeffries appeared in 13 regular-season games this year as an end-of-the-bench option.
Mamadi Diakite
2023-24 stats: 0.0 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.3 SPG
Contract status: One year left at $2.27 million
The breakdown: Picked up in early March, the 6-foot-9 Diakite appeared in just three regular-season games with the Knicks.
Credit: Source link