New York Knicks: Series vs. Hawks proves need for Lonzo Ball

Although the New York Knicks were very successful this season thanks to the likes of Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley, this team still needs an upgrade at the point guard position. Additionally, the team needs an upgrade specifically when it comes to player archetypes.

Some examples of these are 3 point shooting (especially at a high volume), perimeter defense, and playmaking. In an ideal world, the Knicks will be able to find a player who can contribute in each of these areas.

Luckily for them, Lonzo Ball is hitting the free agent market.

The New York Knicks Could Go After Lonzo Ball in Free Agency

For months now, including in the weeks dating back to before the NBA trade deadline, Ball and the Knicks have been linked together. The Knicks immediate acquisition of a lead guard started and ended with the Rose deal, but that doesn’t mean the New York Knicks’ interest in the UCLA product will or should waver.

What was the one major issue outside of Julius Randle’s struggles that doomed New York in the playoffs first round against the Atlanta Hawks? This guy:

Oh wait, no. Sorry, I meant Trae Young. I’m sure you understand my confusion.

Young was scoring at will. Heck, beyond at will. I’m not entirely sure he wasn’t yawning every time he did a crossover, or hit a floater, or threw a lob. It was that easy for him. The Knicks refused to take away his right hand while our best perimeter player was all but glued to the bench outside of about three possessions all series. Damn, I really hope we haven’t seen the last of the French Prince.

Young’s rampage proved to the world that the Knicks aren’t yet ready to combat a player of Young’s caliber in the playoffs. That player is one who can break down a defense so easily despite it being an elite defense. The Knicks need a ball stopper on the perimeter. Every team needs multiple guys like that to compete at the highest level.

Lonzo Ball would boost the New York Knicks perimeter defense

This is the first major box that Lonzo Ball checks off. The 23-year-old is already a premier defensive player. Any New Orleans Pelicans fan will tell you that Lonzo Ball, a guard, is their defensive anchor. More so than even the defensive-minded Steven Adams or All-NBA defender Eric Bledsoe. He often guards the best opposing player. Check out this chart showing his success doing so early in the season:

Ball plays defense on a high level for a Pelicans team that only ranks 23rd in the league in defensive rating. Therefore, some of Ball’s numbers won’t truly show his impact on that end due to the shortcomings of his teammates. His numbers are impressive regardless. Ball still ranks 54th in Defensive Box Plus/Minus, 13th in steals per game (1.5), and 20th in total steals (82), stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.

Ball is the perfect player to slot in for New York in a potential matchup with the Hawks. Imagine ‘Zo, whose 6-foot 6-inches, smothering the 6-foot-1 Young.

New York Knicks: Lonzo Ball brings playmaking

The oldest Ball Brother has also played better than his numbers would imply when it comes to his shooting and playmaking. He shot slightly above league average from beyond the arc at 37.8%. The two positives in this? He did so on 8 attempts per game, which paints his percentage as great rather good. Then, it is important to consider Ball accomplished this while using a new jumper this year and shooting a percentage that is much better than his previous season numbers.

Lonzo shot 37.5% last season on 6 attempts, which sounds just as impressive, however when looking at his monthly shooting splits you can see he was very inconsistent. His final percentage was the benefit of a couple of scorching stretches but also hurt by cold ones. In 2020-21, he shot poorly for the first week of the season during just 5 December games and 10 games in January. He shot 29% and 34% respectively. Again, he was using a new jumper.

He quickly turned his shooting around by shooting 46% in February, and 36%, 34%, and 40% each month after. Not entirely great, but much more consistent and at the least respectable in comparison to his struggles of the past. Outside of 15 games, Ball’s jumpshot has finally looked promising.

The Knicks struggled to hit threes in the playoffs and weren’t a high-volume shooting team from deep all year. Having a guy in Ball who’s started to prove he can hit his three’s and at a large rate can be invaluable. Finally, Ball is one of the most incredibly gifted playmakers in the league. I likely don’t need to tell you that even if you’re a casual NBA fan. However, if you see Ball’s 5.7 assists per game average this year and you’re not impressed, let me make the following points.

The Knicks were lost in the playoffs without Randle playing at his best. Aside from Derrick Rose carrying the offense often in isolation, the team was unable to find a flow offensively with Randle unable to effectively play-make off the dribble. Adding Ball now gives New York an elite ball-handler to pair with Randle, who himself can be an elite passer most nights. Suddenly, opposing teams will have to struggle with controlling both players, especially if they can pair for a deadly pick-and-roll duo. Randle’s great three-point shooting can be further utilized with another guy who can be trusted to orchestrate.

Ball gets assists (and even triple-doubles sometimes, by the way) with ease. But, he plays with several ball-dominant players in NOLA. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Bledsoe all need the ball in the hands to be at their best, and they are also players that can be described as good to very good playmakers as well.

If Ball is given the keys to the Knicks offense, he can certainly average 7 APG at the least. He may not be top 25 in APG, but he’s undeniably top 5 in creativity, skill, and execution when it comes to distributing dimes.

The New York Knicks have eyed a starting point guard for a long time now. One of the players that has been brought up more and more to fill that role is Lonzo Ball. And after experiencing what went wrong against Atlanta in the playoffs, it should be clearer than ever that Ball would be a near-perfect plug-in option for the New York Knicks’ biggest holes all over the court.