The Knicks added a few big names this offseason, and the players will likely start right away, starting in preseason tomorrow. Via the New York Newsday:
Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, the two free agent pickups, are expected to be in the starting lineup on opening night when the Knicks host Boston on October 20. So you can expect Thibodeau to try somewhere in the four-game exhibition schedule to get a look at how those two work with Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Nerlens Noel. Noel will be the starting center at least until Robinson is ready.
While some teams hold out their starters, Thibodeau did play Randle and Barrett in all four preseason games last season, playing Barrett for more than 30 minutes per game and Randle just slightly under 30.
Last season, Thibodeau didn’t push Immanuel Quickley into the rotation at all in the first game, then used him sparingly in the second one before accelerating his playing time in the final two games and into the season. That could hint at a similar strategy for rookies Quinton Grimes and Miles McBride, although the absence of two key defensive players in Payton and Bullock could push Thibodeau to look for an answer somewhere quickly.
