New York Knicks: Predicting free agents that will re-sign, but way too early
Noah Vonleh
Before the season, it was difficult to think Noah Vonleh had a future with the New York Knicks. He failed to live up to expectations as a top-10 pick, jumping from the Charlotte Hornets to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Chicago Bulls in four seasons.
Vonleh joined the Knicks on a partially-guaranteed deal in free agency, marking his fourth team in five years. That’s not ideal for any player trying to sustain an NBA career.
Through 28 games, Vonleh has cast doubts about his abilities aside, impacting all parts of the game for the Knicks as a ball handler, shooter, rebounder, shot-blocker and overall defender. Fizdale even called him the team’s “most complete player.”
David Fizdale said Noah Vonleh might be the #Knicks' "most complete player." "He’s starting to make his threes, he brings the ball up for us, he guards 1 through 5, he blocks shots at the rim, runs the floor." Vonleh's had double-doubles in the last two games.
— Chris Iseman (@ChrisIseman) November 23, 2018
Vonleh has current career-highs of 8.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks, 49.7 percent shooting and 44.0 percent on three-pointers. In a make-or-break season, he may have already clinched a lucrative deal in free agency, at least one that guarantees a second season.
Will this happen with the Knicks? It depends on Vonleh’s market value. If he costs too much, however president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry define this, the fifth-year man from Indiana could walk to preserve cap space for a run at Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving or another big name.
If the Knicks strike out on the top free agents, and Vonleh remains on the open market, maybe the two sides reconnect. For now, is he playing his way out of New York?
Prediction: Vonleh leaves for greener pastures