An early projection of the New York Knicks' starting five

When the Knicks open training camp next week, coach David Fizdale will begin the process of evaluating his new players and determining how he should write out his starting five. 

This season's priority is about development and preparing for the future. Not winning. 

It's all about growth and progress. 

Fizdale will have some tough choices to make, particularly at point guard, while other decisions are likely to be fairly straightforward, like at center. 

But specific positions are unlikely to guide his decision-making in his adherence to "position-less basketball."

A lot could could happen between now and the season opener, but here's a very early look at how Fizdale's starting five could look. 

Point guard

The choices: Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay

Ntilikina is coming off a rookie season where he shined defensively but struggled offensively. He spent most of the season playing off the ball under Jeff Hornacek, who inserted Mudiay, and eventually Burke, into the starting lineup midway through the season. 

In Fizdale's position-less system, Ntilikina does not necessarily need to be defined as a point guard or shooting guard. Fizdale views all of his guards as, simply, guards. 

Still, the Knicks have to continue to develop Ntilikina. He needs to be more assertive on the offensive end and his shooting needs to continue to improve. He has improvements to make.

General manager Scott Perry said at the Knicks' Town Hall event Monday night that Ntilikina added 15 pounds of muscle this summer, which will help him driving to the basket. 

Defensively, he will lift the Knicks' lineup. That's important, considering Fizdale places a premium on defense. Ntilikina can guard multiple positions with his long wingspan. 

Burke, though, would give the Knicks more of an offensive spark, but is not nearly as good of a defender. 

Burke recharged his career last season, joining the Knicks midway through the season and providing a scoring lift off the bench before working his way into the starting lineup.

We still don't know if his production was an anomaly, or if Burke can repeat that level of play. 

It's hard to see Mudiay getting tabbed as the starting point guard. He still has a lot of improvements to make and was inconsistent on both ends of the floor after being traded to the Knicks last February. 

The starter: Ntilikina

Shooting guard

The choices: Courtney Lee, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ron Baker, Damyean Dotson, Allonzo Trier (two-way)

This spot will almost certainly go to Hardaway, who's entering the second year of a four-year, $71 million contract. 

Lee doesn't fit into the Knicks' long-term plans and is a candidate to be dealt at the trade deadline. He lost his starting job late last season when the Knicks' began their youth movement. 

Hardaway will give the Knicks scoring. He averaged a career-high 17.5 points per game last season, although he shot a career-low 32 percent from three-point range. That can, and should, improve. Hardaway missed a month last season with a leg injury. 

The starter: Hardaway

Small forward

The choices: Kevin Knox, Mario Hezonja 

Fizdale posed the question himself back in June when the Knicks introduced their draft picks: "Who's our starting three?"

Meaning, it very well could end up being Knox. 

Fizdale wants to throw him into the fire to challenge him defensively and let him "take his lumps" and develop, a point he made clear at the Knicks' Town Hall event on Monday night. 

It makes sense. 

Knox is going to be an integral part of the Knicks' future. This season is about development and progress. Develop Knox now. Let him start right away. 

Knox impressed during Summer League with his athleticism, attacking the rim for thunderous dunks. Replicating that during the regular season might not come as easily, but still, this should be his time to learn the rigors of the NBA. 

The starter: Knox

Power forward

The choices: Lance Thomas, Noah Vonleh, Mario Hezonja, Isaiah Hicks (two-way)

The Knicks are going to have to fill this position until Kristaps Porzingis returns from ACL surgery, whenever that may be. 

Enter Mario Hezonja, who's versatile and could play either forward position.  

The Knicks signed the former lottery pick in July. He failed to live up to expectations with the Orlando Magic but the Knicks are hoping he can find success with a change of scenery in New York. 

The 6-foot-8 Hezonja is also playing for a long-term contract so he has something to prove. Steve Mills said Monday night that he's someone who will be looking to prove to the Knicks he deserves that sort of contract. 

The Knicks took a flier on him. They'll see what they have. 

Thomas is another veteran who doesn't fit into the Knicks' long-term plans. If they're trying to see what they have for the future, starting Hezonja makes sense.

The starter: Hezonja

Center

The choices: Enes Kanter, Luke Kornet, Mitchell Robinson, Joakim Noah

Kanter is the incumbent and there isn't really any reason to think he would lose the job. He opted into the final year of his $18.6 million, giving the Knicks a force on the boards and strong finisher at the rim. 

The Knicks love Mitchell Robinson's potential, but he isn't ready to start after not having played college basketball and with the Summer League games having been his first competitive games in more than a year. 

This will be a year for him to grow and develop into an NBA player. 

There still is no certainty Noah will be back with the Knicks, although he's still currently on the roster. 

The starter: Kanter

Email: iseman@northjersey.com 

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