National Basketball Association

Westchester Knicks: Previewing The Roster Ahead Of The Draft

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Westchester Knicks are looking to continue their success from last season. What does Westchester’s roster look like heading into the draft?

The NBA season is almost here. With the preseason over, the New York Knicks will need to finalize their roster. With 18 players on the roster, the Knicks will need to make their final cuts ahead of opening night on Oct. 25.

The 18 on the roster don’t include Cleanthony Early and Damien Inglis, both who were signed in the past month. Both Early and Inglis are expected to start the season in Westchester.

Early is rehabbing a hamstring injury and will benefit from a stint in the NBADL.

There are five players competing to make the roster. Which players will make the New York Knicks roster? And of those who don’t make the team, who will end up with the Westchester Knicks?

Each team are allowed to have four affiliate players on their NBA D-League team. With Early and Inglis taking up two of those spots, there are two spots open. Chasson Randle, Ron Baker, J.P. Tokoto, Maurice Ndour, and Marshall Plumlee are looking to make the main roster.

With the preseason over, Randle and Baker have a good opportunity to make the roster. The Knicks are in need of guards, as two of their point guards have dealt with injuries in the past.

Even though Randle missed the final three preseason games, he has performed well in the games he’s played in.

The former Cardinal has displayed his confidence from 3-point range and can be a pesky defender. Carmelo Anthony praised Chasson Randle’s performance thus far.

Per Al Iannazzone of Newsday:

“I love him. I love. I just love his poise out there, the way he controls the game, controls the basketball.”

Randle will be out of action for three-to-four weeks with a left orbital fracture, but that won’t affect whether New York decides to keep him.

There are about 12-13 players who are a lock to make the roster. With the possible addition of Randle and Baker, that would mean the Knicks’ roster would be set.

What would that mean for the three that don’t make the roster?

While Lou Amundson is in the mix as well, he hasn’t seen much action in the preseason. Amundson has played in 15 minutes during the preseason. He did sign a one-year, $1.5 million contract, but the Knicks could take a salary hit and let the 10-year veteran go.

J.P. Tokoto is on the outside looking in at the moment. Compared to the other guards that he’s competing with, Tokoto is the least likely to make the main roster. The former Tar Heel saw 22 minutes of action against the Boston Celtics and shot 50 percent (3/6) from the field. He has shown his potential on defense as well.

The Knicks guard is widely known for his superb athleticism. In the game against the Celtics, he grabbed three steals.

If interested in bringing Tokoto to Westchester, the Knicks would have to make a trade with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s affiliate. The Blue own Tokoto’s D-League rights.

If the Knicks are interested in a scenario like that, they could part ways with their first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2016 NBADL Draft.

If New York can find a way to bring Tokoto to their D-League affiliate, he would be their third affiliate player added to the team. With the logjam in the frontcourt, Maurice Ndour could be the final affiliate player added.

Ndour is an athletic forward who works well on the defensive end.

There are a couple of players from last year’s roster that could make a return to Westchester. According to Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor, Jordon Crawford will return to Westchester.

Jordon Crawford will return to the Westchester Knicks of the NBA D-League, sources tell Upside & Motor #NBADL

— Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert) October 8, 2016

Since Travis Trice and Jimmer Fredette sat above Crawford on the depth chart, he spent most of the season coming off the bench. While he lacks the size as a guard—5’6″ and 150 pounds—he’s a quick guard who can attack the rim and prides himself on his defense.

Crawford received the opportunity he was looking for when a former teammate received a call-up from New York.

The Knicks guard was thrusted into the starting line-up when Jimmer Fredette received a 10-day call-up in February of 2016. He had a short sample size of games (six) as a starter, but the 5’6″ guard saw his numbers increase as he received increased playing time.

In the six games Crawford started, he averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals in 30.5 minutes per game. Along with that, he shot 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Crawford had a dynamic game against the Canton Charge in March of 2016. In that game, he totaled 24 points, five rebounds, two steals, and shot 4-of-7 from downtown.

Along with Crawford, there’s a possibility Kevin Capers returns. Capers didn’t see much action in his first season in the NBADL. In the 35 games he played in, Capers showed brief flashes of potential.

He shot 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range early in the 2015-16 season against the Idaho Stampede (now Salt Lake City Stars).

Capers had a great opportunity in the final game of the season. Only seven players suited up against the Maine Red Claws, which gave the 6’2″ guard a chance to show that he could contribute.

Capers finished that game with 24 points and six rebounds.

Before Crawford stated that he was going to return to the team, there was speculation that he would based off the promotions the Westchester Knicks were running for the 2016-17 season.

Capers is featured on the team’s social media account in regards to tickets for the upcoming season. As previously mentioned, it’s only speculation.

Before the final game of the regular season, Westchester acquired Renaldo Woolridge from the available player pool. He was deactivated, so he didn’t suit up for the final game on Apr. 2 or in the two playoff games.

Woolridge stated on his Instagram account that he will continue his career with Westchester.

He was set to return to the Grand Rapids Drive last season, but was waived before the start of the season. Woolridge missed last season due to injury, which stalled his comeback.

The last time he was seen on the court was with the Drive during the 2014-15 season. He sat behind Adonis Thomas on the depth chart and saw a small amount of playing time (13.7 minutes per game).

During the 2014-15 season, the 6’9″ forward averaged 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

While Woolridge stated he’s fully recovered from his injury, he will be competing with Damien Inglis and Cleanthony Early for the starting job.

Westchester will look to add players in the NBA D-League Draft on October 30. The Knicks will be without a second and fourth-round pick this year. The second-round pick is owed to the Delaware 87ers from the Gani Lawal trade and the fourth-round pick will go to the Reno Bighorns from when they acquired Ra’Shad James.

The Knicks picked up a 2016 sixth-round pick when they acquired James.

With a few players locked to make the roster, the Knicks will look to add players in the draft. The Knicks are hoping to add the right talent with the possibility that one of those players receives a 10-day call-up later on in the season.

Along with that, the team is hoping that those players lead them to the playoffs and their first playoff series win.