New York Knicks: Deep Sleepers To Consider In Free Agency

Roy Hibbert, Unrestricted Free Agent

Position: Center
Age: 29 (12/11/1986)
Slash Line: .443/.000/.887
Season Averages: 23.2 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.6 ORPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 BPG

The New York Knicks have signed Joakim Noah to a four-year deal worth $72 million. Based solely on the monetary value of the deal, it stands to reason that New York will task Noah with anchoring the interior for years to come.

With an opportunity to sign another center to a one-year deal for an affordable price, the Knicks should consider backing Noah up with Roy Hibbert.

With all due respect to those available, the 2016 free agent market isn’t very strong. Thus, while some may accuse the Knicks of turning the clocks back a bit too far, Phil Jackson is working with the class he’s been given.

Say what you will about Hibbert’s offense, but he’s still a 7’2″ and 270-pound center who can protect the rim by merely raising his hands and shuffling his feet.

2015-16 was a rough year for Hibbert all-around, but he was Top 5 in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage as recently as 2014-15. He was No. 1 in the Association as recently as 2013-14—and there haven’t been any major injuries in between.

If Phil Jackson and Jeff Hornacek can motivate Hibbert to bust his behind on a one-year prove-it deal, he could solidify the Knicks’ defensive interior.

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