Pro: Finding A Distributor
The New York Knicks need a facilitating guard or a system that takes that pressure off of the individuals. DeMar DeRozan may not be a true facilitator, but he’s become one of the best passers and general distributors that the shooting guard position has to offer.
Assuming that the contract is right, adding DeRozan could mean taking a step towards being a viable threat on the offensive end of the floor.
DeRozan has averaged at least 5.2 assists per game in each of the past three seasons. He’s done so while averaging well below three turnovers per game, which suggests that he can handle the facilitating load without being a risk to squander possessions.
Being that the Knicks rank 27th in the NBA in assists, adding a player who can create for others would be a massive step in the right direction.
RJ Barrett’s development as a playmaker, as well as that of Frank Ntilikina and the looming 2020 NBA Draft, must be factored in here. If the Knicks are looking for proven playmaking, however, few are better at the 2-spot than DeRozan.
That makes him a viable option for the Knicks to consider, should he ultimately decline his player option and enter free agency at a reasonable cost.
The question is: Will the pros end up outweighing the cons for Leon Rose and the New York Knicks?