Tyler Kolek has earned his spot in the Knicks rotation.
The New York Knicks traded for Tyler Kolek on draft night, sending multiple second-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers for the 34th overall pick. Since joining New York, Kolek has been making a solid impression. His impressive displays in the Las Vegas Summer League have seen his stock rise further.
In five Summer League appearances, Kolek averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists while shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from three-point range. It’s those strong performances that have reportedly seen the rookie ball-handler position himself ahead of Cameron Payne in the Knicks rotation for the upcoming season. “This is where things stand with the projected rotation coming out of Summer League: Rookie Tyler Kolek is currently the backup point guard, ahead of Payne, per people familiar with the matter,” SNY’s Ian Begley reported on Sunday. “…The Knicks were thrilled to get Payne last week. (He signed for a veteran’s minimum deal). At the moment, he is viewed as the third lead guard behind Kolek, who had a very strong Summer League.”
New York has been in the market for a reliable backup guard since trading Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors as part of the OG Anunoby deal. Kolek will provide a cost-controlled impact with a clear upside. His ability to orchestrate an offense while not commanding a high usage rate fits perfectly with how HC Tom Thibodeau utilizes his second unit.
Kolek and Payne will likely fight for the secondary guard role throughout the season. However, it would appear that Kolek has stolen the early lead due to his potentially high upside and strong showing in the Summer League. Payne will provide exceptional depth at the guard position and can slot into the rotation to provide floor spacing and penetration when required.
New York still needs to replace Isaiah Hartenstein, who left for the Oklahoma City Thunder at the start of free agency. However, with Kolek projected to be an impactful rookie, the Knicks project to be a serious contender in the upcoming season and the years to come.
