Aaron Brooks, Chicago Bulls
Position: Point Guard
Age: 30
Salary: $2,250,000 (Expiring)
Slash Line: .436/.411/.839
Season Averages: 16.6 MPG, 9.2 PPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.3 3PM
The New York Knicks need a point guard who can create penetration, attack in transition, space the floor, and defend at a high level. That’s a lot to ask for, but given the presence of Carmelo Anthony, a star-caliber player isn’t entirely necessary in the short-term.
So long as the outgoing package isn’t crippling, Phil Jackson and the Knicks should work dilligently to make Aaron Brooks that player.
Brooks is one of the quickest players in the NBA, which he puts to use in both the half court and transition. He can break an isolation defender down, operate through the pick-and-roll, and is a blur in the fast break.
For a Knicks team that ranks dead last in both fast break points and points in the paint, Brooks would be a sight for sore eyes.
Defensively, Brooks is limiting opponents to 33.9 percent shooting from the field. He’s undersized at 6’0″ and 161 pounds, but his combination of speed, agility, and tenacity have translated to success as a defender.
Coupled with his efficient shooting from beyond the arc, Brooks would be a true game-changer for the Knicks.
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