New York Knicks: Be patient with Reggie Bullock

New York Knicks swingman Reggie Bullock has struggled in 2019-20, but fans should be patient with a player whose inconsistency was inevitable.

The New York Knicks took a calculated risk by signing swingman Reggie Bullock during the 2019 NBA offseason. Just one day after being signed, Bullock underwent surgery to repair a cervical disc herniation, which directly influenced his delayed debut.

As easy it may be to solely look at his quality of play in 2019-20 when determining whether or not he’s worth bringing back next season, the surgery must be mentioned.

Bullock played in his first game with the Knicks on Jan. 1, and has appeared in 29 outings overall. During that time, he’s converted 40.2 percent of his field goals and 33.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Those uncharacteristically low shooting numbers have created the sense that his partially guaranteed salary should not be retained in 2020-21.

There are a number of reasons to believe otherwise, however, including the most obvious: He’s only recently returned from a serious injury. Rather than resting on that one reason, however, the Knicks should look at the surrounding truths that warranted the signing in the first place.

When healthy, Bullock is the type of player who can provide exactly what the Knicks are looking for from a perimeter player.

Three-Point Shooting

It’s been quite some time since Bullock has been regarded as anything less than a sharpshooter in NBA circles. He shot just 32.6 percent from three-point range in his second season, but since then, he’s flirted with or exceeded the magical mark of 40.0 percent in every season he’s played.

As such, Knicks fans and executives shouldn’t jump the gun by assuming that his mark of 33.3 percent in 2019-20 will be sustained.

Over the course of 301 NBA games, Bullock boasts a career three-point field goal percentage of 38.5. That figure comes with averages of 1.3 three-point field goals made per game and 2.4 conversions per 36 minutes.

Even in 2014-15, when he shot 32.6 percent, Bullock converted 38.5 percent of his three-point field goal attempts before he was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Between 2015-16 and 2018-19, Bullock averaged 1.7 three-point field goals made on 40.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He shot just 34.3 percent from three-point range after being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20, but that furthers the point being made.

When Bullock has stability in his role and team, he tends to drain the three-ball with an elite level of efficiency. That bodes well for 2020-21.

Respectable Defense

Bullock isn’t going to make an All-Defensive Team in 2019-20, but he’s been more than respectable on that end of the floor. He’s just a hair under even in both Defensive Box Plus/Minus and Defensive Real Plus-Minus, and remains in the positive for Defensive Win Shares.

More importantly: He’s setting a great example for the younger players on the roster by playing harder on defense when his offense isn’t where it needs to be.

Knicks fans may be tired of defensive-minded players who struggle on offense, but the right mentality is crucial to sustained success. If the approach of the entire team is to prioritize defense above all else, then the results should change accordingly.

The franchise’s greatest success has been experienced when defense has been prioritized, and Bullock displayed in 2019-20 that he fits that type of culture.

Standing at 6’6″ with a strong 205-pound frame, Bullock certainly has the build to be disruptive on defense. What’s been most impressive, however, is how he’s bought into the team mentality and even led by example under interim head coach Mike Miller.

For what it’s worth: New York is allowing 2.8 fewer points per 100 possessions when Bullock is on the floor than when he isn’t.

There’s Nothing To Lose

The Knicks are entering a period of free agency that offers more confusion than reasons for optimism. It’s possible that New York could win the bidding wars that may arise for the likes of Fred VanVleet or Christian Wood, but the 2021 offseason continues to loom large.

As such, the Knicks don’t have much to lose if the decision is made to bring back the players with only one year remaining on their contracts.

In Bullock’s case, his partial guarantee is for $1 million. The fully-guaranteed amount is just $4.2 million, which pales in comparison to the cap hits of $15.75 million for Bobby Portis or the $8 million for Wayne Ellington.

As such, the Knicks can move forward with Bullock on the roster and trust that he can contribute throughout the season, be flipped at the 2021 deadline, or simply play out a cheap contract.

With Bullock on the roster, New York would at least have a player who can space the floor for a team that struggles in that regard. They’d also have a potential leader in the locker room who can set the proper tone for younger players in need of guidance.

At a cost of just $4.2 million, it’d be too minimal a risk to not give Bullock a chance to show what he’s truly capable of in 2020-21.

If nothing else, New York Knicks fans and executives should be patient with Reggie Bullock. It could pay off in a significant way.