The Knicks released their 2017 Summer League roster

The New York Knicks released their roster for the Orlando Summer League, and boy howdy is it ever better than last year’s roster:

Did anybody watch the 2016 team? It was pretty much unwatchable except for Ron Baker and Chasson Randle. Baker, a restricted free agent this summer, is sitting out, but Randle will be back. He will be joined by 2016-17 Knicks Marshall Plumlee and Maurice Ndour, as well as recent draft picks Frank Ntilikina, Damyean Dotson and Ognjen Jaramaz. Some other names to keep an eye on: undrafted free agents Nigel Hayes, Jamel Artis, Luke Kornet, Canyon Barry (underhanded free throws!) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes.

Frenchman Louis Labeyrie, who was taken in the second round way back in 2014, will make his third appearance on New York’s Summer League squad. Marc Berman is thrilled at the opportunity to use more French puns.

Jeff Hornacek will coach the Summer League squad—a rarity for a second-year coach. Phil Jackson has made it crystal clear that he (and his beloved triangle) will be more involved next season, so I expect this to be something of a training camp for the coaching staff (except for Rambis, of course, who already knows everything).

Still, forget the stilted, robotic offense for a minute. Frank! Other rookies! Low stakes! It’s probably my favorite kind of Knicks basketball, to be honest.