The (New) New York Knicks

"Kristaps Porzingis" by Ed - AIMG_1464. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The New York Knicks have an improved roster. No doubt. I mean, if your roster has Louis Amundson as your starting PF, that isn't too good. You won't win many games. But now it's looking a lot better. There is still a lot of work to be done but just take a look at it.

PG- Jose Calderon (starter), Jerian Grant (bench), Sasha Vujacic (res.)
SG- Arron Afflalo (starter), Langston Galloway (bench), Cleanthony Early (res.)
SF- Carmelo Anthony (starter), Lance Thomas (bench), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (res.)
PF- Derrick Williams (starter), Kevin Seraphin (bench), Louis Amundson (res.)
C- Robin Lopez (starter), Kristaps Porzingis (6th man), Kyle O'Quinn (res.)

Not a bad roster, is it? They have a strong bench and some great role players. And with Carmelo comming back they could easily make a spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

However, I think that the Knicks will be a new beginning for some players. Derrick William will hopefully live more up to the potential that they said he had as he was drafted number 2 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 draft. After not really improving much, he was sent to the Sacramento Kings where he had also not improved and now the Knicks have signed him this off-season.

Arron Afflalo is a guy who knows Carmelo Anthony from when he played for the Denver Nuggets. They will be great to watch playing together. And backing him up will be Langston Galloway. His rookie season was great until it was shortened by injury. With him coming off the bench, the Knicks bench will have no trouble in the scoring department.

Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant will look to be developing and learning along the way. They might not be starters or star players but they will have important roles for the Knicks to have success this upcoming season.

Carmelo Anthony will look to be making the playoffs after coming off an injury. He will be taking on the main scoring load but he will finally have some other players to give the ball when he needs some help with scoring. And if everyone is healthy I would expect the Knicks to at least come close to making the playoffs this season. With Jose Calderon working with Robin Lopez on the pick and roll, with Afflalo coming off screens, and with Derrick Williams going up for some high-flying dunks, this should be a fun year for the Knicks. And they should do well as long as they don't have Louis Amundson starting.