New York Knicks: Evaluating The Current Point Guard Situation
The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in point guard Ricky Rubio. How does Rubio compare to the other point guard options on the market?
The New York Knicks reportedly have trade fever for Ricky Rubio—again. There’s also cited NBA Draft interest in high-rated point guard prospects Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina.
This discussion has completely dragged to the point of desperation from Knicks fans, acknowledging how devoid the team is at the point guard position.
Amidst today’s point guard-centric NBA, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing, in due credit to an over-saturation of talent, the point guard position as the most competitive market.
Nonetheless, it has swayed a plentiful amount of fans and evaluators abroad to adopt this point guard or bust mentality. It overvalues the point guard position at the expense of the overall construction of the team.
It’s negligible to be point guard hungry when the market itself has been soured.
The Team’s Cultural Identity Matter
In today’s league, a point guard demands pieces that complement their skillset and compensate for their individual deficiencies. That would hurt the New York Knicks until they can figure out the player role types: Defenders, rebounders, sixth man, perimeter shooters, second and third option scoring options, and so forth.
The Knicks hasn’t even established a trust system, which is where team identity starts. The only thing that’s been a constant staple for the Knicks is Carmelo Anthony being the alpha scorer.
And this factor particularly has harbored a storm of criticism, perpetrated by Phil Jackson, which has us discussing trade scenarios with Anthony’s name in them.
Considerations
Instead of far-reaching trades for a point guard, the New York Knicks would be best served signing a point guard for a lease, of sorts, in these forthcoming years. Particularly Milos Teodosic, an aging established vet who can be bought and signed for cheap to come and play under the spotlight of Madison Square Garden.
Point guards outside the slated No. 8 spot in the draft would be out of the equation in this instance, and would increase Monte Morris’ stock for the Knicks as a potential draftee as a 44th or 58th pick in the draft.
The option is open to trade for a more convenient position via the draft, or trading one of the assets to the potential landing destination for Morris.
Verdict
The consolation of one the best talents outside of America and a potential draft steal who is touted as “pro-ready” trumps the futile pursuit of Ricky Rubio, and would force one of the more inventive situations the Knicks can make at this point.
Must Read: Evaluating the rumored options in the 2017 NBA Draft
The New York Knicks cannot expect to be completely well off through patience alone. Calculated risk can be met with calculated reward.