Da Windy City
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Chicago Bulls: Ranking the NBA’s top 10 young cores

By Aaron Peterson

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 27: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over teammate Lauri Markkanen #24 against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center on January 27, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 27: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over teammate Lauri Markkanen #24 against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center on January 27, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The 2019 free agency period was no-doubt a massive letdown for the Knicks, but the team is still on a good track as is.

Coming away with the third pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Knicks were able to select perhaps the safest bet in this year’s class in R.J. Barrett. Barrett has All-NBA potential and is a very serious candidate to win the Rookie of the Year Award for 2019-2020, as he is likely to see a hefty scoring load this year.

Another sneaky good pickup for New York is Julius Randle, who had a phenomenal 2018-2019 in New Orleans that was highly overlooked. The Knicks were able to snag him on a relatively cheap three-year deal and will hope that he can be a major franchise piece for years to come.

In addition to the two before mentioned players, the Knicks also have solid starting-caliber players in Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Dennis Smith. Robinson has been a nice surprise for the Knickerbockers, while Knox and Smith Jr. will need to have very good seasons this in 2019-2020 to prove that they deserved to be picked so high. Bobby Portis was a nice free agent pickup for the Knicks, but will likely take a 6th man role and is not signed on a long-term deal.

This relays into an additional example of poor drafting by New York in Frank Ntilikina. Ntilikina very well could be traded, but if the Knicks decided to keep him he could become a nice compliment in a bench backcourt with fan favorite Allonzo Trier.

James Dolan is more than likely headed for the lottery again in 2020, which is not a bad thing for New York at all, as the franchise will hope to land another solid draft pick and a big fish in free agency next summer.

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