New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Jamel Artis signing

3. Playmaking Ability

One of the biggest flaws that the New York Knicks have been forced to face in recent seasons has been an absence of pass-first playmakers. Jamel Artis may be of a score-first mentality, but it’s worth noting that he’s willing to get his teammates involved.

If the Knicks are going to find a way to create a healthier flow on offense, then finding players who can create for others would be an excellent way to do so.

Artis may be known for his scoring ability, but he often played as a point forward for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He’s not a true point guard or a future No. 1 facilitator, but he can handle defensive pressure and bring the ball up with a good idea of where it’s meant to go.

As the Knicks put their trust in Frank Ntilikina becoming the point guard of the future, Artis could alleviate pressure as a distributor.

Artis averaged 3.3 assists per 40 minutes over the course of his four-year career, including 3.9 between the past two seasons. Beyond the numbers, he became a more mature and methodical scorer when he embraced the value of trusting his teammates.

Artis may not be the next Andre Iguodala, but there’s reason to believe that he can become a quality facilitator from the 3 spot.