Predicting New York Knicks' Final 15-Man 2016-17 Roster

This isn’t going to be easy.

Fifteen guaranteed contracts are already on the books, but New York Knicks brass has hinted they might make cuts if one of the three non-guaranteed, Westchester-bound players is a better fit for the final roster. A desperate scramble ensues.

Once those nips are made, there are still tucks to be done: Who’s first off the bench, who makes the regular rotation and who fills the coffers of Men’s Wearhouse while they wait to be activated?

Will point guard Chasson Randle’s strong endorsements and clean injury history earn him a spot behind Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings? Will cool new haircuts be enough to keep 30-something reserves Lou Amundson and Sasha Vujacic off the dole?

Read on for bold suggestions about the Knicks' final depth chart. By “bold,” I mean it will cost (the Knicks) a little money, inspire a few obscenities and give me the opportunity to propose something I call the B.L.T.Mo'Willy with Cheese (which sounds like a killer breakfast sandwich, but is actually a bench lineup).

Point Guard

Player	Age	Height	Weight	Exp.
Derrick Rose	28	6'3"	190	7
Brandon Jennings	27	6'1"	170	7
Chasson Randle	23	6'1"	185	R

Starter: Derrick Rose

The Knicks overall looked less than spectacular during Rose's only performance thus far.

OK, they looked bad, but their principal failure was defense and their inexperience playing as a unit. Derrick Rose himself looked fast and powerful, making some of the sliding, blink-of-an-eye, how-did-he-get-there drives to the hoop he's known for, as well as a locked-in jump shot (which he's not known for).

Rose scored 16 points off 50 percent shooting in his Knicks debut. He also logged five assists and spread the love to a variety of his teammates.

Despite having his best success in Tom Thibodeau's slow, half-court offense, Rose also looked comfortable with the rapid, flowing transition ball Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek is running. He can hold the starting position as long as he can stay healthy (and depending upon his return from the sexual assault case in California).

Bench: Brandon Jennings

Nevertheless, the ecstatic fans joyously chanting "Bran-don Jen-nings" during a preseason game at Madison Square Garden Monday night may have been ready to toss Rose. While he was away in court for his civil trial, Jennings electrified the crowd, giving a preseason game a near-playoff intensity. 

The most exhilarating sequence: Jennings connects with Kristaps Porzingis on a laser-focused bounce pass. KP knocks down a nasty one-handed slam. Jennings celebrates with a shoulder shimmy, then follows it up with a steal, another pass, and another slam, this one by Marshall Plumlee. Add in some chestiness from Wizards guard Casper Ware and the crowd was in an uproar.

Porzingis, all smiles, told reporters after the game on MSG Networks via NBA.com,

"

Those passes, everybody loves them. I love them, to be on the receiving end, but I think the fans love them, and the swagger that he has, I think it brings a lot of energy to the team and to the crowd. 

"

There may be concern that Jennings can get carried away and get sloppy, but for now his cuts are sharp, his passes are mostly on the mark and he's more than capable of matching the pace Hornacek wants.  

After a season derailed by injury, Jennings said, per ESPN's Ian Begley: "I feel great. I feel faster. I hope I look faster...I just feel like myself again."

Reserve: Chasson Randle

With backing like this, the Knicks must find a place for Chasson Randle, the 6'2" combo guard who is Stanford University's all-time leading scorer.

Carmelo Anthony himself said of Randle, per ESPN's Begley: 

"

"I love him. I just love his poise out there, the way he controls the game, controls the basketball," Anthony said. "He can push the pace. He can slow it down. I think you guys would love him too the more that you see him play." 

"

Hornacek praised Randle's contributions on the other side of the floor, per Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"

“He has a good understanding how to play it, where the shots are, but the bigger thing is he has great hands, gets low on defense,’’ Hornacek said Monday. “Offensively, he understands what’s going on, but defensively is where, as a point guard, it’s tough playing some of these guys, get over screens, does a great job getting his hands on balls, he recovers, got long arms.”

"

Randle's court management, sticky fingers, smart dishes and outrageously exceptional scoring ability make him an easy pick for the Knicks backcourt. (His 6'2" frame and admirable hustle garner comparisons to Langston Galloway, too, but I'm still missing Gallo too much to talk like that.) Over the course of three games, he's shot 8-for-18, and 5-of-9 from three-point range. 

Shooting Guard

Player	Age	Height	Weight	Exp
Courtney Lee	31	6'5"	200	8
Sasha Vujacic	32	6'7"	195	9
Justin Holiday	27	6'6"	185	3
Ron Baker	23	6'4"	220	R
JP Tokoto	23	6'6"	200	R

Starter: Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee is everything he needs to be. He never takes a play off chasing, stalking, harassing opponents. He's ever-ready with a screen or a hand-off. He's not the go-to scorer, but he's ready when his number's called. Lee is 5-for-13 in preseason, drilling 4-of-8 from downtown.

We can love Courtney Lee.

If only he could play the 2 spot all the time, because it gets confusing after him.

Bench: Sasha Vujacic 

I know, I know, I know. You hate it, you hate him, you hate me, you hate everything, but listen: Sasha Vujacic probably isn't as bad as you've led yourself to believe.

Not quite as bad, anyway.

So far, he's scored more than any other Knicks SG this year while hitting 56.6 percent from behind the arc. He's racking up roughly the same number of assists and rebounds as Lee and Ron Baker. He drilled the first downtown buzzer-beater of the year. He knows how to run the point, brings energy to the court, is a pesky defender and is old enough not to care much what you think. 

After Jennings, he's the first guard off the bench, like it or not, until one of the young players steps up and proves he can take the pressure. 

Reserve: Ron Baker

It's a toss-up between undrafted rookie Ron Baker and former Chicago Bull Justin Holiday. My pick is Baker, who has a (college) history of being a well-rounded two-way player and has maintained that level so far in New York.

Meanwhile, Holiday has been struggling to find his stroke.

I won't condemn someone simply for shooting 14.3 percent in three games, and I might have been too hard on Holiday's D in the beginning. Nevertheless, if I'm making space, I still opt for Baker, who, over three games, has scored 17 points, six of which came at the line, and hustled the whole time. Like Randle, Baker looks more NBA-ready than Holiday, despite the fact the latter has already played in the league three years.  

And so goes the first of our guaranteed contracts. Justin Holiday, who is already making $1,015,696 this season, is likely assigned to Westchester. With him goes J.P. Tokoto, whose high-flying dunks we didn't get much of a look at this preseason, so far.

Small Forward

Player	Age	Height	Weight	Exp.
Carmelo Anthony	32	6'8"	240	13
Lance Thomas	28	6'8"	235	5
Mindaugas Kuzminskas	26	6'9"	215	R

Starter: Carmelo Anthony

There's no moving the man himself from his spot at the top, no matter how much he says he likes to share these days.

Although Carmelo Anthony certainly won't lead his team in assists again this season, he does have five already in three games. He's a sleek 50 percent from the field (17-of-35, and 6-of-10 from downtown) so he's getting better looks himself.

Plus, he's happy to keep schooling opponents with the best pump fake around and a strong shoulder drop in the post that noses perilously close to offensive foul territory but often results in and-ones. Anthony remains the starter and the star.  

Bench: Lance Thomas

I'm not worried about Lance Thomas. You're probably not worried about Lance Thomas. The fact he's shooting 8-for-23, and only 1-for-6 from three-point range isn't a major concern. Thomas will find his stroke, and if he doesn't...well, his scoring was never his greatest value anyway.

Thomas is a baller, plain and simple. The Knicks made him one of their key priorities during free agency for a reason: he makes the players around him better. He knows where to set a screen, when to provide help defense, how to put teammates in better positions to succeed.

He's also versatile.

He may back up Carmelo at the 3 or Kristaps Porzingis at the 4, and will probably share both jobs with new Knick Maurice "Mo" N'dour. Thomas hasn't quite settled in yet this season (although he already did one of his patented catch-the-ball-out-of-bounds maneuvers), but once he does, he'll be a lock for the rotation.   

Reserve: Mindaugas Kuzminskas

Despite discussion that he would be Carmelo Anthony's backup, we haven't seen much of Lithuanian star Mindaugas Kuzminskas just yet—he only played in two games, 18 minutes total. What we did see was mostly expected: a pretty shooter, but turnover-prone while he adjusts to the NBA. More importantly than his six of nine buckets over those two games?

The new nickname Kuzminskas' teammates have given him.

According to the New York Post's Marc Berman, he smiles so often that they've dubbed him "Cheese." It is a pretty dreamy smile. 

Although I've listed Kuzminskas here as a "reserve" at small forward, he is a wing, and there is a possibility he may sneak over to the 2 spot alongside Thomas, or that Thomas goes to the 4 alongside Kuzminskas. Point being, despite Cheese's limited playing time during preseason, I expect he'll be part of the regular rotation. 

Power Forward

Player	Age	Height	Weight	Exp.
Kristaps Porzingis	21	7'3"	240	1
Maurice N'dour	24	6'9"	200	R
Kyle O'Quinn	26	6'10"	250	4
Lou Amundson	33	6'9"	220	10

Starter: Kristaps Porzingis

This is easy. Kristaps Porzingis looks just as good as we hoped.

He's fast, agile, a little stronger than he was last season (hoping that great conditioning will help him avoid that midseason slump). Those more powerful legs are driving him to another season of superb shooting: Through three games he's 19-for-34 from the field (55.9%), and 6-for-13 (46.2%) from downtown.

Porzingis has also already swatted down five shots and nabbed 16 rebounds, leading the team in both.

Plus, his on-court chemistry with his best buddy Guillermo "Willy" Hernangomez is excellent. If they share the floor together when Willy plays back-up to Joakim Noah, smooth baseline passes between the bigs will be a cakewalk. 

Bench: Maurice "Mo" N'Dour

N’dour can play both the 3 and 4 spot and will likely share both with Lance Thomas. N'dour's main appeal is his smart defense. Although he hasn't shown us any of his bone-chilling, soul-crushing blocks yet, he has logged seven steals already in just three games. 

N’dour has shown off not only his NBA-ready defense but his heads-up offense. Through three games he's 8 for 15 from the field, not just from his own shots, but from savvy put-back buckets off of teammates' misses. After multiple put-backs, N’dour was rewarded with a hearty high-flying shoulder bump from Joakim Noah.

He'll also be rewarded with minutes.

Reserve: Kyle O'Quinn

If I had my druthers, the Knicks would cut ties with Kyle O'Quinn, despite his sweet disposition. However, they're into O'Quinn for about $4 million every year through 2018-19. For that reason, I expect the Knicks will keep him and cut Lou Amundson. 

Lou, newly coiffeured and shaven in the style of a French Victorian aristocrat, might not be an offensive powerhouse (although he nailed a slam in stride the other night). But he is a veteran who reliably brings energy to the defense.

O'Quinn, meanwhile, has been mediocre on both ends. His rebounding does look better so far, though, and the Marquis de Amundson is complaining about back troubles (again). So I expect KOQ stays on the roster, but plays a smaller role than the new blood that's been brought in.

Center

Player	Age	Height	Weight	Exp.
Joakim Noah	31	6'11"	230	9
Guillermo Hernangomez	22	6'11"	240	R
Marshall Plumlee	24	7'0"	250	R

Starter: Joakim Noah

We've watched him practice, we've watched him warm up, but we haven't yet seen Joakim Noah play a game in a Knicks jersey. Delayed by a hamstring pull, he is expected to play Saturday.

Nevertheless, Noah is expected to be the starting center and the defense's linchpin. He managed to be key to the D even while convalescing on the bench the past week, coaching up players from the sidelines. The Knicks are anxious to have him back where he belongs, though.

Per Marc Berman of the New York Post:

“He’s like a caged animal out there,’’ Carmelo Anthony said. “Loud. It’s a different game out there with him. His energy and excitement being back on the court lifted everyone up. That’s what he does. That’s his game and aura.’’

Bench: Guillermo 'Willy' Hernangomez

I wasn't 100 percent sure if Hernangomez's below-the-rim skill game was going to be enough to withstand the power game of other NBA centers.

However, despite only hitting one of two shots, Willy allayed some of those fears Monday night. His dancing and prancing was effective against the likes of Washington Wizards strongman Marcin Gortat. He didn't struggle to the rim, though he was more keen to dish than attack against an intimidating defensive center like Gortat. 

We've yet to see whether he can protect the rim with clever footwork, or if he'll just be outmuscled and outjumped. (Gortat was 4-for-4 Monday night.) He's still adjusting to the NBA pace; Nevertheless, Hernangomez's more graceful style will earn him a greater role than his heavy-handed teammates.  

Reserve: Marshall Plumlee

Marshall Plumlee started Saturday night, but picked up three fouls before most of the crowd had gotten to their seats. That's not a deal-breaker, though.

Every team loves to have an enforcer to bring in to expend his fouls when the starter needs to save his. Because of that, Plumlee's more of a deep reserve than a rotation player...at least until he can get better control of himself.

Plumlee isn't just an enforcer though—he runs the defense intelligently, shouting instructions to his teammates. Depending on the opponent and the assignment, he may be the first center off the bench.

All stats are from NBA.com/stats and up-to-date as of gametime, Oct. 13. Follow Sara Peters on Twitter @3FromThe7.

Putting It All Together

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

So we lose Holiday, Tokoto and Amundson, then buy some nice suits for Kyle O'Quinn because he may spend more time on the inactive list this season.

The starters are easily set: Rose-Lee-Anthony-Porzingis-Noah. Settling on a bench lineup, particularly if the Knicks are aiming for a tight rotation, is trickier.

My favorite choice: the B.L.T. Mo' Willy with Cheese. (B) Brandon Jennings at the point, (Cheese) Mindaugas Kuzminskas at the 2, then Lance Thomas (L.T.),Maurice N'Dour (Mo) and Willy Hernangomez up front.

This lineup adds length, addresses the fact the Knicks' choices at shooting guard are somewhat uninspiring and allows them to put more of their strongest backups on the floor together.    

There are other, likelier candidates for a go-to bench lineup, however.

• The B.L.T. Chick-Mo Willy, featuring Sasha Vujacic.
• The Baked B.L.T. Mo' Willy, featuring Ron Baker.
• The B.L.T Mo' Willy with a Chaser, featuring Chasson Randle at the 2.
• The B.L.T. Chick-Willy with Cheese, which moves Kuzminskas back to the 3 spot and Thomas to the 4.

I'll let you take it from there, but if I see those names scrawled on any deli counter menus this winter, I expect a discount.