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New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Xavier Rathan-Mayes signing

By Maxwell Ogden

TALLAHASSEE, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes #22 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Boston College Eagles at the Donald L. Tucker Center on February 20, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. The 19th ranked Florida State defeated Boston College 104 to 72. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes #22 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Boston College Eagles at the Donald L. Tucker Center on February 20, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. The 19th ranked Florida State defeated Boston College 104 to 72. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – FEBRUARY 11: Xavier Rathan-Mayes #22 of the Florida State Seminoles reaches in to knock the ball away from Matt Farrell #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on February 11, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – FEBRUARY 11: Xavier Rathan-Mayes #22 of the Florida State Seminoles reaches in to knock the ball away from Matt Farrell #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on February 11, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Defensive Potential

The New York Knicks have made it perfectly clear that the goal for the future is to build a stronger defense. Coming off of a season during which New York ranked in the bottom third of the NBA in scoring defense and defensive efficiency, that’s a wise goal.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes is far from an elite defensive player, but the tools are in place for him to become a high-quality defender.

Rathan-Mayes has solid measurements at 6’4″ and 208 pounds with a 6’5″ wingspan. He may have been more of a shooting guard before, but his improved effectiveness as a facilitator has changed the entirety of his game.

Rather than being undersized against shooting guards, Rathan-Mayes can now bring prototypical size and length to the point guard position.

With the size to effectively defend NBA point guards, it comes down to Rathan-Mayes’ level of commitment. If he’s willing to take coaching and make defense his top priority, he should be successful in his attempts to contain shooters and slashers alike.

There’s no guaranteeing that will transpire, but the New York Knicks need help at point guard, and Rathan-Mayes could provide it on both ends.