2012/13 NBA Team Rankings & Previews: #14 New York Knicks

#14 - New York Knicks

2011/12 Record: 36-30, lost Eastern Conference First Round

2012/13 Projected Record: 42-40, playoffs  



Key Additions:

Raymond Felton - Point Guard
Jason Kidd - Point Guard
Ronnie Brewer - Small Forward
Kurt Thomas - Power Forward
Marcus Camby - Center

Key Departures:

Landry Fields - Small Forward
Jeremy Lin - Point Guard

Depth Chart:

Point Guard: Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd
Shooting Guard: J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony, Ronnie Brewer
Power Forward: Amare Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas
Center: Tyson Chandler, Marcus Camby


The X Factor:

Carmelo Anthony

Melo is viewed by some as a "superstar", while others counter that he is nothing more than average.  Is this the year he quiets the doubters?


Summary:  

Championship contender?  Not a chance.  This Knicks team is still ill-conceived and what's worse - they are impossibly old (and probably brittle).  They are paying two players (Melo and Amar'e) "franchise player" money, despite neither being a "franchise player", or being able to actually coexist with one another on the court.  Two positives - Tyson Chandler, and the fact that they play in the Eastern Conference means they'll still make the playoffs.



NBA Preseason Power Rankings

#15 - Atlanta Hawks
#16 - Chicago Bulls
#17 - Utah Jazz
#18 - Golden State Warriors
#19 - Portland Trailblazers
#20 - Milwaukee Bucks
#21 - Cleveland Cavaliers
#22 - New Orleans Hornets
#23 - Washington Wizards
#24 - Toronto Raptors
#25 - Sacramento Kings
#26 - Phoenix Suns
#27 - Houston Rockets
#28 - Detroit Pistons
#29 - Orlando Magic
#30 - Charlotte Bobcats