Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Evaluating 6 Potential Point Guard Options

By Zachary Bachar

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 26: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns drives on Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors during a game at Amalie Arena on March 26, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 26: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns drives on Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors during a game at Amalie Arena on March 26, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
New York Knicks
Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Knicks potential point guard: Kendrick Nunn

The Miami Heat have to deal with Victor Oladipo and Duncan Robinson entering free agency this summer, so it’s possible that they let Nunn look for a new home and prioritize signing their other two major contributors.

Nunn has had an up-and-down career, finishing second in last season’s Rookie of the Year voting before nearly falling out of the rotation in the playoffs. He performed well in a bench role this year, averaging 14.6 points per game on impressive 49-38-93 shooting splits.

He’s shown flashes of being a high-level scorer but has never put it together for longer than a few games at a time.

Ian Begley revealed that the potential thought process of signing Nunn is similar to that of the Charlotte Hornets in 2019.

“One member of an opposing organization analyzing the market drew a comparison between the 25-year-old Nunn and Terry Rozier, who averaged nine points per game in his last season with the Celtics before signing a three-year, $56 million deal with Charlotte,” Begley wrote. “Rozier’s role increased. His production also increased. The opposing team thought Nunn, who averaged 14.6 points per game last year, could follow a similar path if his opportunities increased.”

However, there are some issues with this comparison. Rozier averaged just 18.0 minutes per game in his final season with the Celtics. Nunn averaged 29.5 minutes with Miami this season, having more than enough opportunities to showcase any elite scoring ability.

Rozier also shone brightly in his flashes of extended playing time, averaging 16.5 points and 5.7 assists per game in the 2018 playoffs after Kyrie Irving suffered a knee injury. Nunn has actually played worse in the postseason with career playoff averages of 7.0 points and 1.4 assists per game on disappointing 39-28-100 splits.

Speaking of assists, the second-year guard has been a surprisingly poor passer. He averaged a measly 1.5 assists per game, often leaving playmaking duties to Jimmy Butler. Even in games without Butler, Nunn only averaged 3.6 assists per contest.

Derrick Rose is hardly a pass-first point guard but he averaged nearly three times as many assists as Nunn this season despite playing three minutes less than him on a nightly basis.

Nunn is a solid scorer who is still fairly young, but he’s not someone that you want leading a playoff squad.

Team fit level: 4

Home/Knicks News