The New York Knicks are going to get a look at just how good Jericho Sims can be.
If the Knicks are at full health, Sims, a 25-year-old, fourth-year big man, would presumably be the third-string center.
However, the Knicks aren't going to be at full health for awhile. Fox Sports' Yaron Weitzman reported on Monday that Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is still recovering from May foot surgery. Robinson won't be ready for the start of the season and will be targeting a December or January return.
Robinson's absence will put a big strain on the Knicks' already-thin center rotation. Robinson the Knicks' best, biggest, and most experienced center, and the absence of another big man of his caliber makes him one of the biggest X-factors for this Knicks season.
However, it will presumably throw Sims into the deep end.
Over three seasons, Sims has only played 138 games, starting 32 of them, and averaging 14 minutes per game.
At times, Sims has shown potential as a rim-running big man. He's an explosive leaper with quick feet and a good sense of moving into space. Other times, Sims has looked lost, leaving his feet to contest shots, fouling opponents, and rushing on offense.
However, perhaps because of Sims' size (6-foot-10, 250 lb), Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has shown an inclination to start Sims when other big men are injured. Given that Precious Achiuwa — who would likely be the backup center if Robinson was healthy — is slightly undersized at 6-foot-8, Sims may be thrown into the deep end as the Knicks starting center to begin the season.
While Sims has been a starter before, he has not started for a Knicks team with championship aspirations. For the first time in decades, there are real expectations for this Knicks team. If the Knicks do not win 50-plus games and advance in the playoffs, it will likely be viewed as a disappointment.
And while Sims is not going be the player that makes or breaks this Knicks season — it's nonetheless a pressurized environment for the fourth-year big man. It will be an especially intense start to the season, as the Knicks kick off the season against the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat — four Eastern Conference contenders and potential playoff foes (three of which the Knicks have met in the past two postseasons).
For this reason, it's possible that Thibodeau chooses to start Achiuwa, who is more experienced. Thibodeau could also lean on small-ball looks with Julius Randle at center even more often than expected. But barring a big move for another center between now and the start of the season, it seems as if Sims is going to play real minutes.
Sims has played so sparingly over his career that it's hard to know what the Knicks have in him. The Knicks picked up his $2 million team option this summer, in part for depth, in part to see how much he can still develop. Sims will turn 26 in October, so he is not the typical young player still figuring out the game. It's possible that Sims tops out as an athletic, but mistake-prone big man who is best suited off the bench.
But surrounded by talented guards and forwards, perhaps Sims can take another step in his development this season, whether he is starting or coming off the bench.
The Knicks have had success in developing centers in the Thibodeau era. It's possible Sims is the next player to make a leap.
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