New York Knicks: 3 defense-first guards left on the free agent market
By Allen Settle
New York Knicks: Josh Hart
Josh Hart is one of the more interesting players left on the market. As a restricted free agent, it would take a very good offer to pry him away from New Orleans.
The 6’5″ guard’s game is an outliner for a player at his position. The fifth-year wing is an unusually well-rounded talent. Last season he averaged a solid 9.2 points per game on 43% shooting from the floor and 33% from deep. These are hardly stellar numbers in the modern NBA.
However, Hart was a major contributor to the Pelicans in other areas. For instance, he added an amazing 8.0 rebounds per contest. This ranked second on his team behind only center Steven Adams.
While Hart is not known as a top-tier defender, his unique combination of strength and athleticism would make him an ideal project for coach Thibedeau. There was some speculation about Hart potentially landing in NY at the beginning of the summer.
With proper coaching and opportunity, Hart could be a key rotation player for New York in 2021. At just 26 years old, he would also be a potential contributor for years to come.