New York Knicks: 5 reasons to love the trade for Doug McDermott

The New York Knicks have traded Carmelo Anthony for Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott. Why should fans love the addition of McDermott?

With training camp on the horizon, the New York Knicks have altered the trajectory of the organization in a powerful manner. In response to the incessant rumors and requests, the Knicks have shipped Carmelo Anthony out of New York.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Knicks have sent Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and the Chicago Bulls’ 2018 second-round draft pick.

Having already explored what Kanter brings to the table, it’s only rational to evaluate the future of the other player involved: McDermott.

McDermott was the 2014 National Player of the Year and a three-time consensus first team All-American. Since being selected at No. 11 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, however, McDermott has struggled to find his place in the Association.

Due to the flashes that McDermott has displayed, however, many remain optimistic that a fresh start could enable him to realize his potential.

Fingers crossed.

In New York, McDermott will have an opportunity to repair his reputation in a major market. He’ll attempt to do so on a deep roster that projects to run an exciting motion offense led by head coach Jeff Hornacek.

The question is: Why should New York Knicks fans be anxious to see Doug McDermott don a different combination of the orange and blue?

5. Fitting The Timeline

The New York Knicks have firmly committed to a long-term youth movement. That push is being built around 19-year-old Frank Ntilikina, 22-year-old Kristaps Porzingis, 23-year-old Willy Hernangomez, 24-year-old Ron Baker, and 25-year-olds Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter.

At 25 years of age, Doug McDermott perfectly fits the timeline that New York is building along—and he does so while playing a position of need.

McDermott will have a chance to emerge as the small forward of the Knicks’ future. Baker, Hardaway Jr., and Ntilikina are guards, and Hernangomez, Kanter, and Porzingis are all big men who will split time between the 4 and the 5.

McDermott has a chance to be the player who pulls away from the competition at the 3, where he projects to be effective in a motion offense.

Due to his youth and relative inexperience, it would be fair to argue that McDermott has untapped potential. Jeff Hornacek will explore just how far that upside reaches during a 2017-18 season that will be something of a proving ground for the 25-year-old wing.

New York is looking to develop something long-term, and that’s a perfect situation for a player who hasn’t yet tapped into his true capabilities.

4. Restricted Free Agency

The beauty of restricted free agency for an NBA organization is that it can match any offer a player receives. That’s an advantage the New York Knicks will hold with Doug McDermott, who will be a restricted free agent in 2018.

Thus, if McDermott shows out in 2017-18 and other franchises decide to take a chance on him, the Knicks will be in a position of control due to restricted free agency rights.

This may seem like a rather pedestrian reason for excitement, but it’s a noteworthy change of tune from the Knicks. New York has consistently made poor financial decisions, due in large part to the mismanagement of contracts.

That much was proven when the Knicks’ decision to sign Ron Baker to a one-year deal in 2016 resulted in needing to hand him a two-year contract worth $8.9 million the following summer.

A contract worth $4.45 million per season isn’t reason to cry or complain, but it was an avoidable outcome. Had New York merely included an option or non-guaranteed second year, it could have saved considerable cap space.

The fact that New York acquired a promising talent in their contract year is encouraging enough, but the fact that McDermott is a restricted free agent adds an entirely new element.

3. Offensive Versatility

The New York Knicks are preparing to run a system that will cater to the players’ strengths. Appealing as that may be, every great system features players who can contribute beyond the limitations of their primary strengths.

McDermott hasn’t yet realized his potential as an all-around contributor, but he has the raw skill to contribute in multiple phases.

McDermott’s primary strength is his jump shot, but he’s 6’8″ with a strong enough skill set to keep opposing defenses off balance. He has a solid post game, works well without the ball—running off of screens and working the baseline—and can finish at the rim on straight-line drives.

In a system that will permit him to not only space the floor, but attack closeouts, McDermott has a chance to put forth a productive 2017-18 campaign.

McDermott finished 2016-17 with averages of 9.0 points per game and 14.1 points per 36 minutes. He did so on a slash line of .447/.370/.845, which displays his ability to score at a respectable rate—something he did in loosely structured offenses.

If the versatility fails to develop into something wholesome, then McDermott will still have a borderline elite skill to fall back on.

2. Three-Point Shooting

Throughout his college basketball career, Doug McDermott exemplified how valuable the three-point shot can be. He made 274 three-point field goals on an obscenely efficient mark of 45.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Although McDermott has struggled to find a consistent role in the NBA, his jump shot has translated rather well to the highest level.

Through three NBA seasons, McDermott is averaging 1.1 three-point field goal made per game and 2.0 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. He’s shooting 39.4 percent from distance, including his exceptional mark of 42.5 percent in 2015-16.

McDermott converted 77 three-point field goals in 66 games in 2016-17, shooting 37.0 percent from distance and 37.6 percent on catch and shoot threes.

The appeal of McDermott’s jump shot is that he has a high release point and a quick trigger. He can find openings along the perimeter, curl off of screens, and even face up out of the post and convert from midrange.

McDermott hasn’t played in as balanced a system as Jeff Hornacek aims to create. His shooting touch projects to prosper in New York.

1. Complementing Kristaps Porzingis

Every pondered decision from hereon out will require a question to be answered: “How does it help Kristaps Porzingis?” In this trade, the New York Knicks have acquired a small forward with stretch 4 potential who could ideally complement Porzingis.

If the goal is to surround Porzingis with the personnel to make his job easier, then the acquisition of McDermott checks that box.

As an efficient three-point shooter, McDermott can provide the spacing New York needs in order to get Porzingis efficient looks at the basket. Porzingis will have more room to attack from the post, and the Knicks will run the pick and roll with far more efficiency.

The fact that McDermott can also go to the post, attack a closeout, and move without the ball means Porzingis will need to work less as those around him adapt to his strengths and weaknesses.

There could be situations where Porzingis plays the 5 and McDermott joins him in supreme floor-spacing efforts at the 4. There could also be lineups where McDermott is at the 3 as the Knicks attempt to go big while still hurting teams with the three-ball.

Regardless of what head coach Jeff Hornacek draws up, McDermott and Porzingis have the potential to give opposing defenses trouble.

Must Read: Five reasons to love trading for Enes Kanter

Doug McDermott is still in the process of finding his niche, but the New York Knicks could provide him with the perfect opportunity to do so.