NY Knicks: Spending big on multiple free agents would be a mistake

NY Knicks: Improve the roster without spending everything

Taking everything into consideration, spending on just one of the big names would be the best way to improve the roster while having wiggle room in the future.

The only way around this is something where New York signed one of the older big names free agents on a 1+1 type of deal and also signing one of the younger big names. For example, Kyle Lowry on a short-term deal and Norman Powell on a 4-year contract. Those combined signings would be major improvements to the team’s shot-creating, 3-point shooting, ball-movement, floor-spacing, backcourt depth… really an improvement for everything on offense.

If that scenario doesn’t exist, it would make the most sense for New York to go after 1 of the backcourt targets. Personally, Spencer Dinwiddie, Lonzo Ball, and Powell would be my ideal expensive targets.

Dinwiddie is a physical guard who thrives going to the rim and drawing contact..He’s comfortable taking on a lot of playmaking responsibility, was a fringe All-Star just a season ago, and is a great fit in Tom Thibodeau’s system. He is also coming off of major knee surgery and is a below-average shooter.

Lonzo Ball is allergic to the rim, and a lot of his creation comes in transition as opposed to half-court or in the pick and roll, which is where he’d be operating the most for the NY Knicks. Lonzo is also a nice catch-and-shooter, good passer, and great on-ball defender. At just 23-years-old, he could expand his game even further in New York.

Norman Powell can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. A knockdown shooter and microwave scorer is something the Knicks needed in the playoffs to support Randle, and Powell can be that. Still, outside of scoring, Powell doesn’t bring much playmaking or improvement on defense, so NY will have to consider if that’s where they want to spend a lot of their money.

Evan Fournier could bring a whole new added dimension to the wing, where the Knicks had no one who could put the ball on the floor. Fournier is a nice ball-handler on the wing who is also an excellent shooter. Again, New York would have to decide whether he’s a player who is worth giving a long-term contract to.

New York should absolutely go for one, but I emphasize one of these players and take the risk that comes with it. They don’t want to watch other teams leapfrog them next season.

Sign a player who can help be a long-term complementary piece and stay positioned for an even bigger acquisition in the future. In Leon Rose we trust.