Danny Green Should be on a Top Free Agent Priority for the New York Knicks

The San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers had an epic Round One series for the ages. The Spurs lost in heartbreaking fashion and now need to look forward to the future, especially with two out of the “Big Three” heading towards free agency. Tim Duncan at the age 39 and Manu Ginobili who turns 38 this July will have to decide between retirement or giving it another go at the Championship next season.

More from Daily Knicks

The decision for the two aging stars to return will be up to the players, but San Antonio does face many more decisions. Key role players such as Danny Green, Marco Belinelli, Jeff Ayres, and Matt Booner are all unrestricted free agents this summer as well.

Green in particular is interesting, and should be a top priority for San Antonio to resign. The New York Knicks should make it a priority to make it as difficult as possible for San Antonio to resign Green. Green though wants to return to the Spurs as per Mike Monroe of San Antonio Express-News.

"“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but this is a special group,” “That’s why it sucks so bad, especially for Timmy (Duncan) and Manu (Ginobili). We had an opportunity to do something special for them. All I can do is hope and pray for another group like that in the future, but I have a feeling some of those guys will be back. R.C. and Pop do a great job of bringing in new guys.” “Hopefully, I’ll be back,” “I love San Antonio. The fans have always supported us, from day one. It sucks that we had such a special group, and things may be changing and not be the same again.”"

Green who was born and raised in North Babylon, New York, and is only an hour away from New York City. The Knicks need to make Green one of their top free agent targets and bring Green home. Green would a perfect complimentary player alongside Carmelo Anthony.

Green made $4,025,000 this season and it is very possible that he will make double that amount this upcoming season, especially with the salary cap going up. Green averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2 assist per game this season. Green exemplifies the term “3-and-D” player.

It wasn’t too long ago when Green broke the NBA Finals record for most three-pointers made and was headed to being named the MVP of the Finals in 2013…until the Miami Heat made an improbable comeback in Game 6 and won the Championship in Game 7.

61.54% of Green’s shot selections came from beyond the arc this season. Green made the seventh most three-pointers this season per game at 2.4 three-pointers per game for a grand total of 191 three-pointers in the season, which was the eighth most in the league.

The one knock against Green is that he cannot create his own shot, as seen during the Spurs’ collapse in the 2013 NBA Finals. The biggest indication of this is that 64.4% of Green’s shot attempts come after zero dribbles made, as per NBA.com. Another huge indicator that Green does not create his own shot is that 82% of Green’s field goals made this season came assisted by a teammate, as per NBA.com.

More from Knicks News

The Spurs’ system is a perfect fit for Green, so it is a big question mark to see how Green’s skills translate outside of San Antonio. The Spurs’ system generates 28% wide open shots for Green; which is defined as the closest defender being 6+ feet away, and 34.4% open shots; which is defined as the closest defender being 4-6 feet away, as per NBA.com. With that said I believe New York should still pursue Green hard this upcoming summer despite the questions if New York’s triangle system can generate the same amount of wide open looks for Green to succeed as San Antonio’s system did.

Green is the only guard this season to average more than one block and one steal per game! Who can forget when Green striped LeBron James multiple times in the Finals as James was headed towards the rim on a fast break, going mano e mano with the best freak athlete in the world and winning!

The Knicks and Anthony desperately need a player of Green’s caliber on offense and defense. Green can stretch the floor for Anthony on the offensive end, making a huge liability for opposing teams to leave Green, carving the way for less double-teams on Anthony. On the defensive end, Green can take on the burden of guarding all the quick point guards in the Eastern Conference night to night. New York needs a player to contain the likes of John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, Kyle Lowry, etc.

In conclusion New York should throw as much money as possible this summer to obtain one of the best glue guys in the game today in Daniel Richard “Danny” Green Jr. Bring the kid home Phil Jackson!

Home/Knicks News