Projecting Knicks' Depth Chart, Rotation After 2022 NBA Free Agency

The New York Knicks will emerge from the 2022 NBA offseason as a team to watch during the 2022-23 campaign.

And that's true regardless of whether the 'Bockers can broker a blockbuster deal for Donovan Mitchell.

The Knicks have already made one major move in prizing Jalen Brunson away from the Dallas Mavericks and potentially plugging a hole at point guard that has plagued this team for years. New York also made a healthy investment in the center position by paying Mitchell Robinson to stay and bringing Isaiah Hartenstein to town.

This roster intrigues, so let's dissect it with depth chart and rotation projections before laying out reasonable expectations for this bunch.

The Knicks may not have a ton of fresh faces, but they could see changes to their depth chart.

Obviously, Brunson will take over the starting point guard gig, but he might have a surprising backcourt mate out there with him. And while the starting center spot will be Robinson's to lose, Hartenstein could at least create a conversation with a great training camp.

PG: Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose, Miles McBride

SG: Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier

SF: RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish

PF: Julius Randle, Obi Toppin

C: Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jericho Sims

It's important to remember that traditional position labels grow more antiquated by the day, so players won't only appear in the spots where they're listed. That makes it possible (arguably probable) that a "third-stringer" like Rose or Sims winds up playing more minutes than a "second-stringer" like Reddish.

The one major talking point here is Grimes over Fournier, which, to be clear, is strictly speculation. A number of factors could put the latter in the starting lineup—his salary, shooting stroke and experience chief among them—but the former's defense makes him a better on-paper fit with Brunson, who competes defensively but still could be targeted for his 6'1" frame.

It feels safe to say Brunson and Barrett will play a metric ton of minutes, so let's lock that in right off the bat. The same probably holds true for Randle, who paced the Association in floor time during the 2020-21 season, although the idea of him getting pushed or even passed over by Toppin is a fascinating one.

Rose's playing time will hinge on two things: his health (as always) and New York's place in the standings. As much as Tom Thibodeau might favor the floor general, there are only so many ways to justify giving a 33-year-old major minutes on a team that's buried in the standings. No matter how much Rose plays, though, look for Quickley to get a small but significant raise in opportunity.

Regardless which one of Grimes or Fournier starts, both could handle a heavy workload. The wing rotation is thin, especially if Reddish can't crack Thibodeau's circle of trust.

Up front, it's possible Robinson and Hartenstein see something close to an even split in floor time, since they each bring different things to the hardwood. There's also a chance Sims sees a not-insignificant amount of action, though minutes will be harder to find if Randle or Toppin get regular minutes at the 5.

Knicks fans can (and should) let their imaginations run wild over the idea of what a Mitchell megadeal might mean for this team, but what if it doesn't happen? How good can this team be without him?

Obviously, that answer hinges largely on the development of this team's youth, which now includes the 25-year-old Brunson. Sure, he enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22, but his $104 million contract suggests the organization projects even more growth ahead.

Beyond Brunson, the names to watch are: Barrett, Toppin, Grimes and Quickley. If enough of them leap forward, the Knicks should do the same.

What would a leap look like for this group? New York won't crack the Eastern Conference's top tier even in a best-case scenario, but this team could land either in or just above the play-in tournament. Granted, that's not the biggest prize, but it would be progress after last season's disappointment.