NBA

Breaking down the futures of every Knicks player ahead of pivotal offseason

The start and the finish to the season were disappointing, but there was a lot to like in between.

The Knicks were a surprising 47-35 and finished as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference after starting 10-13.

They won their first playoff round in a decade before falling short in six games to the Heat. 

The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the roster and each player’s status entering an interesting offseason for coach Tom Thibodeau and Co.: 

RJ Barrett 

Contract: Four years left at a total of $107 million. 

He followed up an uneven regular season lowlighted by the worst 3-point percentage of his career (31.0) with a strong playoffs, proving that, yes, he should be part of this core moving forward.

His good games outnumbered his poor ones, even if he did struggle mightily in the season-ending Game 6 loss to the Heat.

Just a reminder: Barrett is still 22 years old.

The arrow is still pointing upward on the high-character wing who responded to criticism in exactly the right way: By letting his play do the talking. 

RJ Barrett proved that he should be part of the Knicks’ core. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

Jalen Brunson 

Contract: Two guaranteed years left at a total of $51 million with a player option for 2025-26 worth $26 million. 

The Knicks now have a legitimate star, one of the top lead guards in the sport.

His regular season was fantastic, despite his All-Star Game and All-NBA snubs.

His postseason, becoming the first Knick since Patrick Ewing in May of 1990 to produce three straight 30-point games in the playoffs, was even better.

Now, they have to build around this accountable, team-first, egoless closer who has changed everything about the franchise in just one year. 

The Knicks must now build around Jalen Brunson this offseason. AP

Evan Fournier 

Contract: One guaranteed year left at $18.8 million and a club option for 2024-25 at $19 million. 

As he told reporters shortly after the Knicks’ season ended, “there’s no way they’re going to keep me.”

The sharpshooting wing was out of the rotation by mid-November, only seeing meaningful minutes due to injuries.

Look for the Knicks to use his expiring contract in a trade. 

Quentin Grimes 

Contract: Owed $2.4 million next year with a $4.3 million club option for 2024-25 after which he becomes a restricted free agent. 

Solid, though not overwhelming, step forward for the 3-and-D guard.

He became a full-time starter and shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range in his second year in the league.

But his strength is clearly on the other end of the floor, where he is already a quality defender.

If his offense can catch up, the Knicks really have something in the 23-year-old, former first-round pick out of Houston. 

Josh Hart 

Contract: Player option worth $12.9 million. 

The Knicks went 17-8 to close out the regular season following his addition, and he played a major role in their playoff series win over the Cavaliers.

He fit this team like a glove as a tenacious defender and ball-moving, extra-effort reserve.

Some of the warts began to show against the Heat, in particular his iffy perimeter shot, but expect Hart to return after he enters free agency.

He’s a winning player who was just asked to do a little bit too much against the Heat. 

Josh Hart is likely to return to the Knicks. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

Isaiah Hartenstein 

Contract: One year left at $8.2 million 

After a slow start, he became a vital part of the Knicks’ strong second unit.

A quality rim-protector and screener, the 7-footer was a major asset in the team’s surprising opening-round win over the Cavaliers.

He adjusted well to the Knicks using him differently than the Clippers — he had much less time with the ball in his hands as a secondary playmaker — and gradually earned the trust of the coaching staff. 

Miles McBride 

Contract: Team option for $1.8 million next year. 

Proved himself as a useful piece, particularly defensively, after getting an opportunity to contribute from the bench.

He may never be more than a backup point guard unless his offense develops, but his team-best 107.3 defensive rating during the regular season was a major factor in Thibodeau sitting personal-favorite Derrick Rose in favor of McBride. 

Immanuel Quickley 

Contract: One year left at $4.2 million before becoming a restricted free agent 

A breakout regular season in which he was the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up after posting career-highs in scoring (14.9), rebounds (4.2) and minutes (28.9) was somewhat muted by a disappointing postseason.

The Knicks clearly missed the 23-year-old guard in the last three games against the Heat, when he was unavailable due to a sprained left ankle.

Expect them to try to lock up one of their best two-way players to a contract extension this summer. 

Julius Randle 

Contract: Owed a total of just over $53 million the next two years with a player option worth $29.4 million in 2025-26. 

It’s never simple with Randle, his positives and negatives mixed together.

He was a focal point of the Knicks’ best season in a decade, their lone All-Star and an All-NBA third team selection.

He followed that up with a poor postseason in which he totaled 36 assists and 34 turnovers, and averaged just 16.6 points on 37.4 percent shooting.

For a player with his recent résumé, his contract is team-friendly. He can be moved, but the Knicks will have trouble replacing his production. 

Julius Randle’s contract is team-friendly for a player with his resume. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

Mitchell Robinson 

Contract: Three years left at a total of $43 million. 

The injury bug bit him again, limiting Robinson to 59 regular-season games, but he was a two-way difference-maker, one of the best offensive rebounders in the game who produced a 7.3 NET Rating (points the Knicks were better than their opponent per 100 possessions when he was on the floor).

He was dominant in the opening-round series win over the Cavaliers, overwhelming Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

There are still offensive limitations with Robinson that won’t go away, but if the worst thing you can say about him is that he’s not the Heat’s Bam Adebayo, who is one of the premier big men in the game, that’s not too shabby. 

Derrick Rose 

Contract: Team option worth $15.6 million next year. 

He was taken out of the rotation on Dec. 4, and never really returned, serving as a mentor to the team’s young guards.

The Knicks will almost certainly decline his team option, allowing him to be a free agent and find a new home to wrap up a brilliant career. 

Obi Toppin 

Contract: One year left at $6.8 million before he becomes a restricted free agent. 

It would be a surprise to see the Knicks extend the former lottery pick.

He’s still extremely limited as a defender and shotmaker, and as long as Randle is here, Toppin’s role isn’t going to change.

A non-displaced fracture of his right fibula head set him back, and he wound up producing less — fewer points, fewer rebounds, fewer assists in fewer minutes — than he did a year ago.

His 3-point shot did improve, which was the best part of an otherwise down season for him. 

Jericho Sims 

Contract: Due a partially guaranteed $1.9 million next year with a team option of $2.1 million in 2024-25. 

The 58th pick in the 2021 draft has already exceeded expectations considering where he was selected.

He’s a valuable insurance policy at center with room to grow on the offensive end.