The New York Knicks are currently looking for a point guard to pair with Frank Ntilikina. Ty Lawson could be an inexpensive option.
Notable point guards such as Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague were signed within the first two days of free agency. Although the New York Knicks were unable to secure said players, there are many other point guards who remain unsigned.
One under the radar and an inexpensive free agent point guard who can contribute to the Knicks is Ty Lawson.
Lawson is attempting to resurrect his NBA career following a disastrous 2015-16 season with the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers. He has battled many issues off the court, but appears to have moved on from such issues.
Last season with the sacramento Kings, Lawson averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 25.1 minutes per game.
His overall stats aren’t mind-blowing, but he was solid in 18 games after the All-Star Break. He averaged 12.3 points, 5.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steal. He also averaged 4.8 free throw attempts per game, and shot 50.0 percent from the field.
If Lawson is able to pick up where he left off, he would be a benefactor to New York.
With the triangle no longer being the focal point on offense, Jeff Hornacek will be able to utilize the uptempo system that he ran in Phoenix. In the past, point guards who played for Hornacek tended to thrive, i.e. Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, and Isaiah Thomas.
With his selfless play on offense, a player like Lawson would thrive in Hornacek’s system. Transition points were a major element of Hornacek’s offense in Phoenix. Lawson’s speed allows him to take the ball coast to coast and create offense in transition.
Even though Lawson has struggled to shoot the 3-ball over the past two seasons, he’s capable of going back to being one of the NBA’s better shooters.
Bringing in Lawson wouldn’t necessarily jeopardize Ntilikina’s development. Hornacek can implement a dual point guard lineup with Lawson and Ntilikina.
With two point guards in the lineup, there would be more ball movement as both players are pass-first point guards.
This would allow the offense to be more efficient and to be more fluid. Knicks fans can remember the most recent success the team had when they ran a dual point guard lineup: 2012-13 Knicks with the interchangeable Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and Pablo Prigioni.
In the past, big men have thrived off of Lawson’s playmaking ability through the pick and roll. Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, and Joakim Noah would thrive in that very manner
This would lead to Noah potentially experiencing a resurgence in his second year with the team.
Derrick Rose has expressed interest in returning to New York. However, he is more than likely to ask for a long-term deal and a considerable amount of money.
Lawson can be brought in on a one-year deal that wouldn’t take up the team’s cap for future offseasons. Next year’s class of free agents will include: Isaiah Thomas, Andrew Wiggins, and DeMarcus Cousins.
If New York brings Rose back on a hefty contract, such a move would impact its ability to sign premiere free agents.
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What do you think? Would Lawson make a fine addition to the New York Knicks? Hit the comments section below.