New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Kadeem Allen signing

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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 31: Kadeem Allen #45 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on March 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Playmaking Potential

The New York Knicks need players who will make a concerted effort to help those around them improve. It’s an admittedly rare trait and ability, but the presence of playmakers tends to simplify the game for those who are tasked with scoring.

Kadeem Allen may not be the best facilitator in the NBA, but he’s a willing passer who will provide the presence of yet another quality distributor.

Allen finished the 2017-18 G League season with an average of 5.0 assists per game. That more than doubled his turnover average, which is a sign of how efficiently he gets the ball out and to his teammates over the course of four quarters.

Allen distributed just 4.0 assists per 36 minutes in 18 appearances for the Boston Celtics in 2017-18, but his court vision is at least adequate.

A significant aspect of what makes Allen intriguing as a playmaker is his unselfishness. He’s willing to play without the ball, makes the extra pass within the flow of the offense, and doesn’t go assist-hunting when he’s at point guard.

There’s certainly room for improvement, but if New York wants a player who can help get the ball moving on offense, Allen has the potential to be able to do so.