New York Knicks: Pros And Cons Of Pursuing Ray Allen

Pro: Championship Experience

Team president Phil Jackson has one goal in mind with the New York Knicks: to build a sustainable contender. In order to do so, the short-term Knicks must be of a high enough caliber to develop a winning culture.

Jackson already has some quality pieces on the roster, but Ray Allen has something that no starter currently possesses: a championship ring—or two.

Allen is a two-time NBA champion who played a critical role during both of those title runs. The only other NBA champion on the roster is Justin Holiday, who averaged 2.2 minutes during the 2015 Playoffs with the Golden State Warriors.

Adding Allen to the mix would provide the Knicks with the type of veteran leadership that may be missing from the locker room.

Carmelo Anthony and Joakim Noah are two of the greatest leaders in the NBA today. Neither have won a championship just yet, however, which is why it’d be wise to have a player who has for when the title push begins.

If any free agent can provide that veteran wisdom, it’d be the player who has two rings and four NBA Finals appearances on his resume.

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Ron Baker and Chasson Randle would provide the youth and promise that New York needs, but dismissing Allen as an option would deprive the Knicks of a rare opportunity to improve the culture.