New York Knicks: Doug McDermott proving long-term value

New York Knicks forward Doug McDermott was mislabeled as a spot-up shooter with no additional value. Thus far in 2017-18, he’s looked the part of a long-term asset.

When the New York Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the general response consisted of a measure of disappointment. Neither Enes Kanter nor Doug McDermott were viewed as players with long-term value, and thus, the ‘Melo deal was viewed as something a salary dump.

After 11 games, however, the return on the Anthony trade is beginning to take the form of a positive acquisition.

While Enes Kanter has deservedly received praise for his production, not nearly enough talk exists about McDermott. He’s overachieved in virtually every sense of the word, and it stands to reason that every positive about his game is sustainable.

It’s fair to question if he can maintain this level of commitment to two-way basketball, but McDermott has shown no indication that he’ll slow down.

McDermott has slimmed down since he was drafted, and it’s made all the difference in his game. He’s carrying far less weight on his body, which has made him a deceptively fast and, dare I say it, explosive athlete.

McDermott proved as much with a reverse dunk on Phoenix Suns rookie Josh Jackson that caught every fan, writer, and analyst watching by surprise.

Explosive.

McDermott has always been more athletic than he’s given credit for, but the toning of his body has helped him greatly in 2017-18. His off-ball action has been the key to his success, as he’s been able to get to his spots quicker than in previous seasons.

That much was proven by the dunk on Jackson, as he beat one of the most explosive athletes in the 2017 NBA Draft class on a baseline cut.

For as as impressive as his vertical was on that play, the key to it was his basketball IQ. McDermott worked the corner, read the play, and caught Jackson watching the ball—letting his  speed and footwork do the rest.

McDermott experienced similar success against Tobias Harris and the Detroit Pistons, when he executed within the offense to get a layup from a half court set.

The play against the Pistons only scratched the surface of how hard McDermott is willing to work for a bucket.

McDermott’s constant motion has kept opposing defenses on their toes. Even when the ball doesn’t find his hands, he’s moving within the offense to give the ball-handlers options and the defense another task to focus on.

The epitome of his off-ball value was displayed against the Indiana Pacers, when he covered every corner of the floor before giving New York an easy two.

Constant motion.

The ability to get to the basket while working without the ball has been a key to both McDermott’s early success and New York’s overall execution. While that will need to continue, it’s the bread and butter that will keep the Knicks fed.

Thus far, there isn’t a single player on the New York Knicks who’s doing a better job of reading screens and positioning themselves for jump shots than McDermott.

McDermott is one of the best shooters in the NBA as far as pure ability is concerned. In addition to having the advantage of being 6’8″, he has a quick and high release that consistently punishes late defenders.

A career 39.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc, McDermott is off to a scorching start at 2.3 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes on 46.9 percent shooting.

The key to the efficiency of McDermott’s jump shot, however, isn’t just being able to knock down the three-ball. During his best performances, he’s been able to get going from midrange to help provide a bridge between his backdoor cuts and deep marksmanship.

On many plays, McDermott simply keeps his eyes up and his feet moving—fundamentals that enable him to position himself for shots that are easily in his wheelhouse.

Even when New York fails to penetrate, McDermott has impressed with how crisply he comes off of screens to curl right into an accurate midrange jump shot.

No hesitation.

Much of McDermott’s offense comes from an off-ball setting, but that isn’t a bad thing. The Knicks have invested significant resources in the likes of Tim Hardaway Jr., Kanter, Frank Ntilikina, and Kristaps Porzingis, and all four players are trusted to effectively orchestrate the offense.

What McDermott needs to do is exactly what he’s been doing: Space the floor, move without the ball, and finish with versatility.

Thus far, McDermott is averaging 8.7 points per game on a slash line of .544/.469/.875. The 8.7 points may not jump off the page, but they’ve generally come in a timely manner, and translate to a mark of 14.5 points per 36 minutes.

That success a direct result of McDermott doing what too many Knicks have failed to do in 2017-18: Being ready to go directly into his shot.

Per Marc Berman of The New York Post, big man Kyle O’Quinn summarized McDermott’s game perfectly: “Just find him…he’ll make you look good.”

While the offensive potential has always existed, it’s the level of commitment that McDermott has displayed on defense that’s won him playing time. He still struggles an individual defender, but he’s working within the scheme and isn’t losing his man when defending off-ball.

In turn, McDermott has helped the Knicks accumulate net ratings of -0.1 with him on the court and -4.2 when he isn’t. Neither mark is especially ideal, but the divide is vast.

The New York Knicks are 4.1 points per 100 possessions better when McDermott is on the floor—a telling statistic.

Must Read: Who stepped up with Kristaps Porzingis absent?

Doug McDermott still has 71 games to go before he enters free agency, but he’s making it clear that he belongs in the long-term plans.