The Knicks should start getting first round pick Wilson Chandler some more playing time. He has played in only 13 games (1 start) this season and he is averaging 7.1 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He is only shooting 40% from the floor and 42.9% from the free throw line this season. It’s hard to get into a rhythm when you are sitting on the bench all of the time. The Knicks have nothing to lose by giving Chandler some playing time to see what he can do.

The Knicks are loaded with veteran, highly paid big men which hurts rookie Wilson Chandler’s chances of getting on the basketball court. Chandler has played in only 5 games this season for the Knicks and he is averaging 6.4 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Don’t look for Chandler’s playing time to increase unless the Knicks make a bunch of trades.

The Knicks just had too many players on the roster so they decided to cut rookies Jared Jordan and Demetris Nichols. Jordan played in six games in the pre-season and he averaged only 4.5 minutes, 1.0 point, 0.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Nichols played much better than Jordan. He played in 5 games in the pre-season and he averaged 7.8 minutes, 4.8 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He also shot really well as he hit 57.1% from the floor, 66.7% from three point range and 80% from the free throw line. Look for Nichols to get a shot with another team at some point this season.

The Knicks rookies didn’t get much playing time early in the season, but they played a lot late because of the injuries that decimated the Knicks roster and they did o.k.  Forward Renaldo Balkman played in 68 games this season and he averaged 15.7 minutes, 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  Balkman hit 50.5% from the floor but he needs to improve at the free throw line where he only hit 56.7%.  He will be a decent reserve in the future for the Knicks because he’s a very solid rebounder.  Guard Mardy Collins was only known for his fight with Carmelo Anthony until late in the season when he finally got some playing time.  He played in 52 games this season and he averaged 14.9 minutes, 4.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He needs to improve his shooting as he only hit 38.2% from the floor and 27.7% on three-pointers.  Forward Randolph Morris signed on late with the Knicks and he played in 5 games and averaged 8.7 minutes, 0.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  He may have a future with the Knicks and was a good signing for them.

The Knicks rookies have not played very well this season.  Renaldo Balkman has played in 44 games and he’s averaging 13.2 minutes, 3.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists.  The Knicks do like the defensive effort that Balkman gives every night, but he needs to work on his offense.

Guard Mardy Collins best play of the season was when he fouled J.R. Smith hard to start the big melee in New York.  Collins has played in 26 games and is averaging 4.5 minutes, 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists.  He’s also only shooting 33.3% from the floor.  That shooting % must come up if he wants to earn more minutes.

The Knicks are a veteran team that don’t have alot of extra minutes for the rookies to play.  Renaldo Balkman has gotten a little bit of playing time.  Balkman has played in 22 games and has averaged 12.4 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists.  He does look like he has some ability, he just needs a little more playing time.

Mardy Collins has been doing alot of sitting and watching so far in his career.  Collins has played in 14 games and has averaged 2.1 minutes, 1.3 points and 0.3 rebounds per game.

The Rookies look talented, but it will be hard to evaluate them until they get some extended playing time.