LAS VEGAS -- When the Brooklyn Nets beat the New York Knicks to sign free agents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last week, they offered the Knicks a template. In order to change their fortunes in free agency, the Knicks must develop the kind of quality young talent the Nets are able to put around Durant and Irving.
That process continues for New York at the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, where the Knicks have several members of their regular-season roster in action. That group includes recent lottery picks RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox, overachieving 2018-19 rookies Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier, and 2019 second-round pick Ignas Brazdeikis. With so much talent, the Knicks were installed by Caesars Sportsbook as favorites to win the NBA summer league before they started 0-2.
After those first two games for New York, including Friday's ballyhooed matchup between Barrett and No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, let's check in on the progress of the young Knicks.