Do the Knicks have enough depth for the 2024-25 NBA season?

After dealing with mounting injuries that ultimately ended their 2023-24 season, the Knicks revamped their bench depth this summer in hopes of avoiding a similar fate if they suffer similar misfortune. They drafted four prospects and signed guys who played consistent bench minutes last season in hopes of fending off the injuries that could plague them in their pursuit of the franchise’s first championship in more than 50 years.

They proved last season that they could battle through the regular season without two of their top three players, reaching second place largely without Julius Randle And OG AnunodoorBut by the time the playoffs started, they were out of options. Are they prepared to avoid that scenario this time?

In addition to the expected core rotation of nine players, the Knicks have: Jericho Sims, Ariel Hukporti, Jacob Toppin, Keita Bates-Diop, Chuma Okeke, Pacome Dadite, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek And Cameron PayneThey have some options at every position, but how reliable are they?

Toppin, McCullar Jr. and Hukporti are on two-way deals and will likely spend the majority of their playing time in Westchester. It would be interesting to see Toppin get some minutes, but he doesn’t seem high in the pecking order — and it’s rare for someone in his position to have an immediate positive impact on a competitive team.

Dadiet and Kolek have a chance to be exceptions. Dadiet was New York’s only first-round pick in this draft, but at just 19, after a tough Summer League, it’s possible he could get reps in the G League as well.

Kolek has looked much more NBA-ready and competes at a weaker position for the Knicks, with only Payne competing at the fourth guard position. Kolek has looked sharp with a historic assist-to-turnover ratio in Summer League and appears to have an easily translatable jumper and role.

Still, it’s tough to project NBA performance based on college and Vegas reps, and there’s an argument to be made for looking at the veteran option. Payne played 17.9 minutes per game in 78 appearances (including 10 starts) last season, averaging 9.3 points on 38.2% three-point shooting in the final stretch for Philly.

As for emergency guards, a nine-year veteran who has been consistent from three and has played in 58 postseason games — including an NBA Finals series in 2021 and impactful minutes against New York last year — isn’t a bad option. Neither Payne nor Kolek would be able to move up a position, but if the Knicks are short a ball handler, at least they have their creation at the ready.

The wing is probably New York’s strongest position between Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVinzenco And Josh HartThe only real backup option besides the rookies, however, is Okeke, the 16th overall pick in 2019, who failed to live up to his selection with the Magic.

Okeke is a strong winger who never added enough three to his three-and-D promise, as his deep shooting clip dropped to a meager 28% from three each season. He should be able to maximize the rest of his game under Tom Thibodeaubut he is not a sure option if someone drops out.

It’s possible he could also replace the four. Another option is Bates-Diop, an athletic 6-foot-8 big who has played for five teams in six seasons and joined the Knicks via the Bridges trade.

Despite the loss Isaiah Hartensteinthe Knicks still have a valuable third-string center in Sims, or Precious Achiuwa if the former were to make a huge leap. Both have taken steps forward in the face of injuries before, with plenty of success, and the Knicks have some creative options to play at five when it matters.

SNY’s Ian Begley still believes the Knicks aren’t completely sure about the position and want to sign an experienced five-man team like Bruno Fernando, Omer Yurtseven, JaVale McGee And Bismack BiyomboIf that works, the center and point guard positions will be in reasonable shape to withstand a dent or two.

The middle of the field is a bit suspect, though — and it doesn’t take many absences to start looking at rookies and options in the G League. The Knicks could either cut guys to make room for additional contracts, or look to bolster the rotation at the trade deadline after seeing how the first half of the season pans out.

That’s the most likely outcome, given their expectations and injury history. The postseason takes a brutal physical toll, especially on a team like the Knicks, and injuries are bound to happen.

New York seemed primed for that final season, until it lost five players in two series. That may have been unfortunate, but perhaps the lesson is that you can never have too many reliable options.