Knicks’ young playmaking specialist could play a huge role next season

Kolek could have a much bigger role next season, especially with their guard depth looking uncertain. Cameron Payne, Delon Wright, and Landry Shamet are all free agents, and it is unclear if the Knicks will retain any of them.

That’s where Kolek comes into play. The small guard is an exceptional playmaker and flashed that ability in his limited playing time this past season. He had four games this season with seven or more assists, including a nine-assist, zero-turnover performance against the Dallas Mavericks on March 25.

Kolek would help solve a lot of backcourt issues

One of the Knicks’ biggest issues last season was a lack of a secondary ball handler. Kolek could take that leap of becoming that player and running the offense in the second unit.

New York’s bench was last in points per game and ranked towards the bottom in several major categories. Kolek could help fix that with his elite playmaking and solid shooting from long range.

Ultimately, Kolek’s role is dependent on how the new head coach feels about playing him. While he can help improve the offense, there are defensive concerns that make him tough to play for long stretches, which is something a new coach will consider.

Nevertheless, Kolek could have a bigger role for the Knicks next season, which could have a huge impact for them going forward.