New York Knicks: Grading The 2016 Offseason

Courtney Lee, the definition of a 3-and-D player, is—on paper—Phil Jackson’s best signing. The New York Knicks had high hopes for Aaron Affalo last season, but he was benched by interim head coach Kurt Rambis.

Lee is the perfect replacement for Affalo, and at an average of $12 million a year, he has one of the more reasonable contracts that were given out during the off-season.

He will be 35 years old when his contract expires, but Lee is one of the iron men of the league, not having suffered any major injuries. Lee is one of the players who can start or be a force off the bench.

Don’t be surprised if during the first two years of Lee’s contract he’s a starter, and during the final two years he comes of the bench. At that time, Lee could be a future Sixth Man of the Year candidate, similar what Jamal Crawford has been doing.

As Lee put it, the Knicks do have a “scary” starting five, be it on paper, but players on paper don’t win championships. And Lee is already talking about championships, which is a good thing. You don’t want players on your squad with low expectations.

To beat a dead horse, all of this depends on health.

If it wasn’t for the Rose trade, Noah wouldn’t have considered the Knicks. If it wasn’t for Noah signing with the Knicks, Lee wouldn’t have been recruited. So as an indirect result, Lee came to New York because of Rose.

Yet another example of how the Rose trade is paying dividends. This is a solid signing by Phil Jackson and Steve Mills.

GRADE: A+

Next: Lance Thomas