With all of their starters and most of the players you’d pay to see at Madison Square Garden sitting out Monday night , the players on the fringes of the roster and rotation had a chance to show what they could do — and the Knicks' coaches and front office got an extended look at them on the court.

So what did they learn?

First, they got a clear view of why former coach Tom Thibodeau put his starters on the floor for extended minutes as the reserves — a deeper, improved bench from last season — fell behind by as many as 36 points in a one-sided loss to a shorthanded Washington Wizards squad at Madison Square Garden.

But the positive again was a chance for the players hoping to grab a spot in the rotation to fend off the trade rumors, to show the Knicks — or another team — that they’re

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