Potential Knicks free agent targets: Justin Holiday, Indiana Pacers
According to a recent report by the Indianapolis Star, the Knicks “really want” their former player Justin Holiday back in New York. There were reports of Holiday being unhappy with the locker room situation in Indiana, which he later denied, but there are definitely issues to be resolved behind the scenes for the Pacers as they search for a new head coach after firing Nate McMillan.
The 31-year-old Holiday arrived in New York as part of the Derrick Rose trade in 2016. He ended up playing all 82 games during his lone season with the Knicks, coming off the bench to average 7.7 points on 43.3 percent shooting, including 35.5 percent from downtown.
Holiday improved his long-distance accuracy this past season in Indiana, connecting on 40.5 percent of his threes. As a veteran who can both shoot the basketball and play defense, he seems like a nice fit for Thibodeau’s new squad, especially if he can be had at a decent price.
For all of the rumors about Victor Oladipo and New York, perhaps the best candidate to join the Knicks from the Pacers roster is a former Knick in Holiday.