New York Knicks: 4 free agents to avoid this offseason

Picking out four free agents that the New York Knicks should avoid.

The official start date of the NBA free agency period hasn’t been decided yet, but it’s safe to say that it will begin a little while after the November 18th draft. This gives new president Leon Rose and the New York Knicks front office at least four weeks to finalize their plans for bringing in players from other teams.

A lot of time is spent picking out specific targets that would theoretically fit the Knicks, but what about players that don’t fit the team’s philosophy? Avoiding players that are a poor fit is just as important as signing players who can adjust seamlessly.

This is evident from last year’s free agency outcome, where the “quantity over quality” strategy did not pan out for former team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry. Additions such as Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, and Elfrid Payton never truly meshed with the younger guys and it showed on the court in the worst ways.

Thankfully, it seems like Leon Rose has learned from the mistakes made by the previous regime. An early report from SNY’s Ian Begley reveals that the Knicks will evaluate players based on their fit alongside promising rookie RJ Barrett.

This seems like a step in the right direction, but actions will always speak louder than words. Building around Barrett sounds like a great strategy, but most Knicks fans know that viewing offseason reports through rose-tinted glasses often leads to disappointment.

Here are four players that the front office should steer clear of when looking for additions in free agency.