With 14 roster spots filled, who should the New York Knicks consider giving the 15th and final place to?
The New York Knicks will utilize training camp as a tool to fill the 15th and final roster spot. Though that intention is clear and established, there are alternative methods for finding that final player.
While most of the big-name free agents are expectedly off the market in early August, a select few recognizable names remain.
The Miami Heat changed the free agency game for teams by signing Dion Waiters for less than $3 million per season. It was a telling sigh that teams are prioritizing in different ways than they used to, which has thus limited the market value of multiple high-profile free agents.
Even the less noteworthy free agents are worth considering as the Knicks weigh their options.
As New York signs players to join it at training camp and prepares for a momentous season, one last ditch effort should be made to find a quality free agent. Though none are your proverbial sure things, all have value.
The question is, which free agents should the Knicks be considering for the 15th and final roster spot?
Next: Championship Point Guard, Part I
5. Norris Cole, UFA
Position: Point Guard
Age: 27 (10/13/1988)
2015-16 Slash Line: .405/.324/.800
2015-16 Season Averages: 26.6 MPG, 10.6 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.4 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 3PM
Norris Cole began his NBA career by winning back-to-back championships as a member of the Miami Heat. In the three years that have followed, Cole didn’t exactly find a way to translate that success to New Orleans.
Though there are some question marks about what more he has to offer, at 27 years of age, Cole is worth bringing in at the veteran’s minimum.
The appeal with Cole is that he’s a capable scorer and playmaker with postseason experience. Considering the Knicks already have the starting and backup positions filled, Cole could help as a third point guard.
Given Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings‘ respective injury histories, having a third point guard on the roster wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
Unfortunately, Cole has become something of a defensive liability—and that’s founded more in his effort than his ability. Opponents shot 5.4 percent better when Cole was the primary defender in 2015-16.
If the Knicks believe that Cole can find himself defensively, then he may not be a terrible signing. There are simply better options.
Next: The Veteran
4. Jason Terry, UFA
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 38 (9/15/1977)
2015-16 Slash Line: .402/.356/.818
2015-16 Season Averages: 17.5 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.3 3PM
In his prime, Jason Terry was a game-changing scorer who closed out the 2011 NBA Finals. Five years later, Terry is a respected veteran who can still space the floor and provide a valuable veteran presence in the locker room.
If one of the three players ahead of him can’t be had, then Terry would be a thought-provoking consolation prize for the New York Knicks.
Terry, 38, isn’t the type of player who’s going to provide a steady stream of productive minutes. Instead, he’s a veteran whose value can be found in a specialized skill and a wealth of postseason experience.
As a former NBA champion who played a critical role in that title run, his perspective on what it takes to win would be welcome in the locker room.
In 115 postseason games played, Terry has accumulated an average of 15.0 points on a slash line of .443/.388/.828. In other words, Terry didn’t just reach the playoffs and win one title; he made numerous deep runs and played quite well along the way.
Terry isn’t going to take over many games at 38—going on 39—years of age, but his mere presence could be of value.
Next: Championship Point Guard, Part II
3. Mario Chalmers, UFA
Position: Point Guard
Age: 30 (5/19/1986)
2015-16 Slash Line: .410/.309/.832
2015-16 Season Averages: 22.5 MPG, 10.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 3PM
Mario Chalmers’ injury was one of the most heartbreaking occurrences of the 2015-16 season. He’d finally escaped the shadows of his Miami Heat teammates and established himself as a productive point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Unfortunately, Chalmers tore his achilles tendon and has thus found himself in his current predicament as a free agent in August.
In 55 games with the Grizzlies, Chalmers recorded averages of 10.8 points and 3.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. That translates to per 36 averages of 17.1 points and 6.1 assists, which any and every team would happily welcome.
Encouraging as that all may be, Chalmers is a 30-year-old point guard who just tore his achilles tendon—and yes, that’s as bad as it sounds.
Chalmers could come back and perform at a high enough level to provide the necessary depth behind Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings. He could also come back and play like a shell of his former self.
Considering Jennings and Rose have injury concerns of their own, it’s safe to believe that Chalmers isn’t on the Knicks’ radar.
Next: The Popular Choice
2. The Training Camp Route
For the New York Knicks, the stars at the 2016 Summer League were guards Ron Baker and Chasson Randle. Both shot the lights out, created for their teammates, and stepped up on defense.
The Knicks officially signed Baker to the training camp roster on Monday, August 1.
August 1, 2016 – New York Knickerbockers President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed guard Ron Baker.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) August 1, 2016
Though he hasn’t been signed, it’s quite clear that Knicks fans would like to see Randle in New York.
Do you want the New York Knicks to sign Chasson Randle to fill the final roster spot?
— Daily Knicks (@DailyKnicksFS) July 23, 2016
Randle is a quality facilitator and excellent 3-point shooter who can play both on and off-ball. Perhaps most intriguingly, he has experience in the Triangle Offense from his time at Stanford under head coach Johnny Dawkins.
Baker, meanwhile, is a 3-and-D combo guard who’s quite similar to Jeff Hornacek in style, size, and stature.
Though there may be better players on this list, the training camp route creates more flexibility. New York would have a sponge of a young player who’s hungry to maintain a roster spot and comes with no expectations.
With just one roster spot remaining, the Knicks must now decide what the optimal path to follow will be.
Next: The Polarizing Figure
1. Lance Stephenson
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 25 (9/5/1990)
2015-16 Slash Line: .481/.385/.784
2015-16 Season Averages: 19.9 MPG, 8.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.6 SPG
Just two seasons ago, Lance Stephenson was breaking out as a borderline star for the Indiana Pacers. His scoring prowess, dominant rebounding, and treasured ability to facilitate from the 2 made him one of the more coveted players in the NBA.
Now 25 years of age, Stephenson is struggling to find employment in the NBA—and that’s exactly why the New York Knicks should sign him.
Stephenson isn’t just a highly capable playmaker who can be had for the veteran’s minimum. Instead, he’s a highly capable playmaker who can be had for the veteran’s minimum and is as hungry as any player in the NBA.
Considering the Knicks are building a rotation that’s flush with hungry competitors, adding Stephenson to the mix could actually help the team dynamic.
At his best, Stephenson can create in the half court, push the pace in transition, and influence games on both ends. At his worst, Stephenson’s poor shot selection and carelessness with the ball can cost his team dearly.
There’s little middle-ground with Stephenson, but he did averaged 14.2 points on a slash line of .474/.355/.815 with the Grizzlies in 2015-16.
Though there are other appealing options, this debate comes down to three players: Baker, Randle, and Lance Stephenson.