New York Knicks: Three options to improve the bench next season
By Adam Kester
Semi Ojeleye
25-year-old Semi Ojeleye is now in his third season with the Boston Celtics. While Ojeleye has had stretches of consistent play, he’s never averaged more than 16 minutes per game.
Ojeleye currently has a club option for the 2020-21 season. At his current cap hit of $1.4 million, Ojeleye may seem like a bargain, but the Celtics are going to be in a major roster crunch this offseason.
On top of owning three first-round picks in the upcoming draft, the Celtics bench is already crowded. Between Marcus Smart, Enes Kanter, Brad Wanamaker, recent draft picks Grant Williams, Robert Williams and Romeo Langford, and undrafted youngsters Carsen Edwards and Tacko Fall, it’s easy to see a scenario with Ojeleye being one of the odd men out.
While Ojeleye’s offensive game hasn’t made many strides since entering the league, he is an absolute handful on defense. Opponents guarded by Ojeleye shoot 4.6 percent worse than their average field goal percentage. His strength and quick hips are what make him so versatile. Despite being 6-foot-6 tall, Ojeleye is a stocky 240 pounds. His weight doesn’t slow him down, and he’s shown the ability to guard multiple positions.
Ojeleye plays on the wing but can play at the 4 in small-ball lineups. On top of his ability to guard the perimeter, he is capable of taking on taller defensive assignments and bang with power forwards down low.
Ojeleye’s biggest flaw is his lack of offense. He isn’t a threat off the dribble, but there is hope that he can grow into a solid spot-up shooter. Ojeleye is currently shooting just under 37 percent from three on the season, the best mark of his career.
At just 25-years-old, Ojeleye could be a good gamble for the Knicks, even at a slight overpay. On top of his defense, you wonder if he has another level of play he can still hit. It’s hard to imagine him getting anything more than around $7 million per season, and at his age, there could be more room to grow with an expanded role on the Knicks.