Honorable Mention: Steve Novak, UFA
Position: Forward
Age: 32 (6/13/1983)
Slash Line: .444/.467/1.000
Season Averages: 4.4 MPG, 2.4 PPG, 0.7 3PM
The New York Knicks are in dire need of shooters who can convert timely 3-point field goals. Said players don’t offer much the rest of the way, but back-of-the-rotation contributors who can hit big shots in the second and third quarters are always valuable.
Novak doesn’t offer much, but he proved himself to be more than capable of bringing Madison Square Garden to life.
Novak wouldn’t receive many minutes in New York, but adding a fan favorite to the end of the rotation would be a nice move for fan morale. Novak knows how to invigorate the crowd with his 3-point shooting, and is a veteran voice with respect across the NBA.
One-trick pony or otherwise, having veteran leadership in the locker room is important for team morale.
Novak has been a teammate of Carmelo Anthony‘s before, playing a key bench role for the 2012-13 Knicks that won 54 games. That alone is worth looking into, especially for a team run by The Zen Master—a man who knows just how valuable relationships can be.
Novak is more of a locker room signing than an on-court pickup, but why turn down the opportunity to improve team morale at the veteran’s minimum?
Next: Two-Way Guard