3 Reasons why The New York Knicks should trade for Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown is a top Perimeter Defender

Jaylen Brown is a top perimeter defender in the NBA playing for a team that plays a fast-paced, offensive style. Brown is also a better perimeter defender than anyone on the Knicks. The only person who can contend defensively on the Knicks on the perimeter is Frank Ntilikina, who gets almost zero playing time.

The New York Knicks were 3rd in Defensive Rating this season, largely due to 2021 Coach of The Year Tom Thibodeau’s otherworldly abilities to coach defense. The Knicks still need a guy who is a defensive stopper, and Brown has serious potential to do that.

RJ Barrett and Reggie Bullock are both good perimeter defenders in a team-defensive-scheme like the one Thibodeau runs, but it is not enough. The Atlanta Hawks made it very clear the Knicks do not have a guy to guard the best offensive player on opposing teams.

Brown’s one defensive knock is his ability to play team defense. He is known to at points get lazy and not always make the heads-up plays. That will not fly with Tom Thibodeau. Thibs will force Brown to be his best defensive self, which would be a scary weapon to have.

Brown’s defensive issues are coachable, and the Knicks have the NBA Coach of The Year, so those issues will probably be gone before the regular season starts.