The New York Knicks are looking for the right role players to complement the young core. Which under the radar free agents may be able to help?
There’s a growing belief that the New York Knicks are in a better place today than they were three years ago. After spending more than a decade disregarding the NBA Draft in favor of free agency, the Knicks are embracing an alternative approach to success.
With the front office executing a youth movement via the NBA Draft, attention has healthily shifted back to free agency as general manager Steve Mills pursues the ideal complements.
New York has its interior of the future in place with power forward Kristaps Porzingis and center Willy Hernangomez. It also has an alluring young point guard in the 6’5″ Frank Ntilikina, and a dynamic scoring threat in shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr.
The key to enabling that young core to develop, however, will be surrounding it with the ideal role players to alleviate certain measures of pressure.
With limited cap space, the Knicks will need to get creative in free agency. That could mean executing a sign-and-trade for a big name, but there are low-profile players who could be worth giving short-term contracts to.
The question is: Who are the under the radar free agents who could help the New York Knicks lighten the burden on Kristaps Porzingis?
Luke Babbitt
Position: Small Forward
Age: 28 (6/20/1989)
Experience: 7 Seasons
2016-17 Slash Line: .402/.414/.733
2016-17 Season Averages: 15.7 MPG, 4.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.3 3PM
The New York Knicks know the value of an elite 3-point shooter as well as any organization in the NBA. Before the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets set 3-point shooting records, it was the Knicks of 2012-13 that broke the mold and made 3-point shooting a winning trait.
Nothing brought Madison Square Garden to life quite like a timely 3-ball, and no player provided more timely bombs than Steve Novak.
Fast forward to 2017 and the Knicks have an opportunity to sign a player cut from Novak’s cloth: Luke Babbitt. Babbitt, like Novak, may be limited in his shot creation and defensive proficiency, but he’s an invigorating player due to his 3-point shooting.
For those unfamiliar, Babbitt finished 2016-17 at No. 12 in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage at .414.
Babbitt has a career average of 2.6 3-point field goals made per 36 minutes on 40.6 percent shooting from distance. In 2016-17, he averaged a career-best 2.9 3-point field goals made per 36 minutes—a sign of just how lethal he can be from beyond the arc.
Babbitt’s value may be limited to his shooting, but at Madison Square Garden, that’s more than enough to change the momentum of a game.
Tyler Ennis
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22 (8/24/1994)
Experience: 3 Seasons
2016-17 Slash Line: .433/.386/.840
2016-17 Per 36 Averages: 11.1 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 1.6 APG, 0.5 3PM
Former Syracuse Orange point guard Tyler Ennis was a college basketball superstar. Even as a freshman, he displayed the poise and calm nerves under pressure that few players possess on the collegiate scene.
Although Ennis’ NBA career hasn’t been quite as rewarding, he showed enough flashes with the Los Angeles Lakers to give a chance to.
In 53 games, Ennis averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.7 3-point field goals made per 36 minutes on a slash line of .433/.386/.840. That includes averages of 7.7 points and 2.4 assists on a slash line of .451/.389/.864 in 17.8 minutes after the All-Star Break.
His exposure was limited, but when Ennis took the court, he played well enough to justify a team giving him an expanded role in 2017-18.
Beyond the numbers, Ennis is a team-first player who could help the Knicks by coming in and making it his goal to get others involved. He’s certainly not Rajon Rondo, but he’s a willing passer, which would be progress unto itself.
If the Knicks are unable to sign Rondo, then the 22-year-old Ennis could be an ideal younger option to help bring sustainability or stability to the offense.
K.J. McDaniels
Position: Guard/Forward
Age: 24 (2/9/1993)
Experience: 3 Seasons
2016-17 Slash Line: .456/.303/.842
2016-17 Season Averages: 10.3 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.4 BPG, 0.4 SPG, 0.4 3PM
If defense is the top priority, then it would behoove the New York Knicks to give K.J. McDaniels a look. It’s not necessarily a game-changing move on the surface, but signing McDaniels could be an excellent way to build a healthier culture.
McDaniels may not offer much on the offensive end of the floor, but there’s no denying how intriguing he is on defense.
McDaniels is a 6’6″ swingman with a 6’11.25″ wingspan, an explosive vertical leap, and generally above-average athleticism. He’s proven himself as a shot-blocker, and has improved his ability to make plays in the passing lanes, as well.
That much was proven when McDaniels averaged 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.4 3-point field goals made per 36 minutes in 2016-17.
Beyond the numbers, McDaniels has earned the reputation of a proficient on-ball defender. He’ll need to improve the consistency with which he performs, but head coach Jeff Hornacek needs a perimeter player who can defend at a high level.
If the Knicks manage to help McDaniels tap into his potential, he could be a Thabo Sefolosha type of young player to develop long-term in the orange and blue.
Alex Poythress
Position: Small Forward
Age: 23 (9/6/1993)
Experience: 1 Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .463/.316/.800
2016-17 Season Averages: 26.2 MPG, 10.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.8 ORPG, 0.8 APG, 1.0 3PM
Alex Poythress appeared in only 12 games during the 2016-17 NBA regular season. Between his tenure in the NBA D-League with the the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and his 12-game NBA tenure, however, he showed flashes of intriguing potential.
If the New York Knicks are looking for young players with two-way potential, then Poythress could be a perfect low-cost option in free agency.
Poythress has ideal size as a 6’7″ and 235-pound hybrid forward who can defend both the 3 and the 4 at high levels. He’s improved his jump shot quite significantly over the past year, and a coach like Jeff Hornacek could help him further expand his range.
Per Joe Bloss of CSN Philly, 76ers assistant coach Billy Lange heralded the trait that complements Poythress’ tremendous size and length: his explosive athleticism.
"“He’ll jump up out of nowhere and tip-dunk an offensive rebound, he’ll take off down the floor and chase someone down and block a shot,” Lange said. “It’s just about getting him to have a motor. A lot of that … comes with confidence, understanding that he can do it at this level.”"
If New York acts quicker than Philadelphia, Poythress could play a significant role in both the short-term and long-term cultivation of a team.
Currently a member of the 76ers’ Summer League roster, the Knicks would need to act quickly to sign Poythress. It’s likely that he’ll end up at training camp with Philadelphia if New York doesn’t act swiftly, which could result in his securing a main roster spot.
For what it’s worth, Poythress finished his 45-game stint in the D-League with averages of 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 offensive rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks on a slash line of .527/.403/.783.
Thabo Sefolosha
Position: Guard/Forward
Age: 33 (5/2/1984)
Experience: 11th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .441/.342/.733
2016-17 Season Averages: 25.7 MPG, 7.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG< 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 3PM
The New York Knicks may be embracing a youth movement, but defense should still be a priority. If a contender opts against signing Thabo Sefolosha, then he could be the ideal veteran to help mentor the younger wings on how to maintain position defensively.
Elite defense remains a prerequisite for team success, and Sefolosha could provide great value on a one-year deal.
Sefolosha’s offensive game is limited, and it’s more than likely that he’d prefer to sign with a contender. New York needs defense to become a priority, however, and Sefolosha is a respected veteran who could set a tone in the locker room.
That alone is reason to be intrigued, especially with Sefolosha’s 2015-16 and 2016-17 teammate, Tim Hardaway Jr., coming to New York.
If the idea is to tank in 2017-18, then adding a player like Sefolosha may be a bad idea. Sefolosha may not be a star, but he has a significant impact on the game and would help stabilize a unit that Jeff Hornacek may rather see experience growing pains.
If sustainability is the goal and tanking isn’t a prerequisite, however, then a move for Sefolosha could help build a strong culture.
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The New York Knicks have a number of under the radar free agents to consider.