3. Unselfish Basketball
The New York Knicks desperately need team-first players who are willing to buy in and embrace the scheme. Hero ball ran rampant in New York during the 2016-17 season, and more times than not, it faltered.
By trading for Jae Crowder, the Knicks would effectively acquire a team-first player who can not only fit the scheme, but play for his teammates.
In Boston, Crowder proved to be willing to make the extra pass—something New York often seemed opposed to doing. He routinely passed up good shots for great shots, and when his number was called, he knew how to respond.
It shouldn’t be difficult to find players who will put the team over their personal gain, but Crowder is the rare breed of player who does exactly that.
The 26-year-old earned the respect of a revered head coach in Rick Carlisle when he played for the Dallas Mavericks. He then became a personal favorite of another respected head coach in Brad Stevens with the Celtics.
In New York, it stands to reason that Crowder could be an even better version of P.J. Tucker, whom current Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek coveted during his Phoenix coaching years.