Not every free agency target will be a star. In order to build a true contender, the New York Knicks must sign quality players to create depth.
The New York Knicks have the cap space to make a run at a genuine impact player. Player options belonging to Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams will determine just how much money the Knicks will have available to spend, and thus either enable or impede New York’s ability to offer a max contract.
In order to build a true contender, however, the Knicks must dramatically improve the second unit.
Improving the starting backcourt is priority No. 1, but New York’s second unit was a weakness in 2015-16. The Knicks ranked No. 21 in bench points per game, which was a tough pill to swallow after witnessing its success during the opening month of the regular season.
Improving the second unit is a necessary course of action, and that comes down to far more than just finding the ideal sixth man.
In some instances, the players listed would fill that role to perfection, but lack the name value to appear near the top of league-wide free agency trackers. In others, said contributors may not see a high number of minutes, but have a skill set that can be of great value in small doses.
No matter how large or small their role may be, the following players could help round out a second unit that’s in dire need of improvement.
Next: Honorable Mention
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
Jerryd Bayless, UFA
Position: Guard
Age: 27 (8/20/1988)
Slash Line: .423/.437/.778
Season Averages: 28.9 MPG, 10.4 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.7 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 1.9 3PM
One of the best kept secrets in the NBA is how solid an all-around player Jerryd Bayless has become. He was stuck in a difficult situation with the Milwaukee Bucks, but found a way to make the most of his opportunities.
If nothing else, Bayless can provide a similar 3-and-D impact to what the New York Knicks envision Langston Galloway will eventually be able to.
Bayless overcame constant changes to the rotation to convert 43.7 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc—No. 4 in the NBA amongst players who made at least 100 3-point field goals. That was a massive jump from his 2014-15 mark of 30.8 percent, but it was the third time in his career that he’s shot 39.5 percent or better.
It’s also worth noting that Bayless made a career-best 101 3-point field goals in 2015-16, and did so in just 52 games—good for an average of 1.9 per contest.
Bayless is far from a lockdown defender, but he held his own against both backcourt positions in 2015-16. He’s a strong 6’3″ with the quickness to keep up with shooters who work off-ball and look to create separation by coming off of screens.
With the Triangle Offense requiring point guards to space the floor, Bayless making 45.8 percent of his corner 3s is a sign that he could help New York in 2015-16.
Next: Infusion of Quickness
Aaron Brooks, UFA
Position: Point Guard
Age: 31 (1/14/1985)
Slash Line: .401/.357/.766
Season Averages: 16.1 MPG, 7.1 PPG, 2.6 APG, 1.5 RPG, 1.0 3PM
Arron Brooks experienced a steep decline in playing time, but that didn’t stop him from putting forth yet another quality season. It’s fair to question how much the 31-year-old has left in the tank, but on a short-term deal, he could be quite valuable to the New York Knicks.
Not only is Brooks a solid shooter, but he’s become one of the more underrated defensive players in the NBA.
Brooks held opponents to 38.7 percent shooting in 2015-16, which comes on a solid sample size of 5.4 field goals faced per game. That’s not massive, and he’s never been a true lockdown defender, but Brooks does an excellent job of closing out on shooters.
Adding Brooks to the Knicks’ rotation would provide Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten with a veteran whose defensive intensity can be channeled and utilized as an example of how the game should be played.
Offensively, Brooks is one of the quickest players in the league, which helps him exploit openings and enter the paint. His finishing ability declined in 2015-16, but his ability to create penetration and kick it out to shooters along the perimeter would be quite valuable.
Having shot 37.8 percent from beyond the arc over the past four seasons, Brooks can also provide the shooting range to keep opposing defenses honest.
Next: 3-and-D
Troy Daniels, RFA
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 24 (7/15/1991)
Slash Line: .476/.484/.556
Season Averages: 11.1 MPG, 5.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.4 3PM
You won’t find many 3-point shooters better than Troy Daniels. He led the NBA with a 3-point field goal percentage of 48.4 percent in 2015-16, and averaged just under 1.5 per game in his limited appearances on the court.
Whether in an increased or similar role, Daniels’ ability to shoot the lights out makes him an attractive low-cost option for the New York Knicks.
Daniels posted per 36 averages of 18.3 points and an absurd 4.6 3-point field goals made per game. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’d average those numbers with a bigger role, but it’s an intriguing set of statistics from a player who has already proven that he can step up in a postseason game.
Lest we forget the 2014 NBA Playoffs, when Daniels closed out the Portland Trail Blazers for the Houston Rockets in Game 3, and scored 17 points in Game 4.
Daniels’ presence as a sharpshooting 2 would help improve the depth that New York is currently lacking at shooting guard. He can space the floor as well as anyone in the NBA, and that’s a vital attribute in an offense that includes Carmelo Anthony, Robin Lopez, and Kristaps Porzingis—three players who will attack the basket.
For what it’s worth, Daniels held opponents to 36.2 percent shooting in 2015-16, faring especially well against shooters—a possible sign of his 3-and-D potential.
Next: Lockdown Potential
Wesley Johnson, Player Option
Position: Small Forward
Age: 28 (7/11/1987)
Slash Line: .404/.333/.652
Season Averages: 20.8 MPG, 6.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.3 3PM
The New York Knicks are in danger of losing hybrid forward Lance Thomas to free agency. If that transpires, then it would behoove the Knicks to look for an option to complement Derrick Williams—assuming he opts in—in athletic small-ball sets.
That may not sound like the Knicks’ style, but a combination of Johnson and Williams would make for a very intriguing transition attack.
Johnson’s jumper wasn’t quite as efficient in 2015-16 as one would’ve liked it to be, but that’s primarily due to his unfittingly high number of 3-point field goal attempts from above the break. He’s a career 34.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and shot better than 35 percent from distance in each of the previous two seasons.
More importantly, Johnson converted 61 corner 3s on 43.3 percent shooting—a sign that he could find his niche in the Triangle Offense.
Johnson’s defensive consistency has been a bit of an issue, but he has the tools to be an excellent on-ball and team defender. He stands at just over 6’7″ with an overwhelming 7’1″ wingspan and the athleticism to keep just about any caliber of athlete in front of him.
If the Knicks can tap into Johnson’s potential, he can be a valuable asset coming off the bench.
Next: Triangle 4
Jon Leuer, UFA
Position: Power Forward
Age: 26 (5/14/1989)
Slash Line: .481/.382/.762
Season Averages: 18.7 MPG, 8.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.1 ORPG, 1.1 APG, 0.6 3PM
The Phoenix Suns did an excellent job of highlighting the offensive versatility of their big men in 2015-16. No player was as pleasant of a surprise as 26-year-old power forward Jon Leuer, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The New York Knicks would severely improve the quality of the second unit if Phil Jackson were to sign Leuer.
Leuer is a skilled big man who can be a solid team defender. He’s listed at 6’10″—although he measured 6’11.5″ in shoes at the 2011 NBA Draft Combine—and roughly 230 pounds with a 7’0″ wingspan, which are physical gifts that can be put to use defensively.
Leuer has already proven to be receptive to coaching, which bodes well for his future with whichever organization signs him.
Offensively, Leuer is a very good passer with a decent midrange game and a lethal 3-point shot from above the break. He converted 38.2 percent of his 3-point field goals in 2015-16, and hit 41.3 percent of his attempts from the previously alluded to area.
Leuer has the skill set to excel in the Triangle Offense, and could be a quality low-cost addition to the rotation in 2016.
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While none of these potential signings are guaranteed to work out, all have the potential to help solidify the New York Knicks’ rotation in 2016-17.