NY Knicks: 5 ways the Knicks are mirroring the Miami Heat
By Allen Settle
Both the NY Knicks and Miami Heat are betting on an again PG
One of the first major dominoes fell when reports emerged that Miami had added veteran guard Kyle Lowry to the fold.
At first glance, this was a massive boost to a talented Heat team that underperformed in the 2021 postseason.
Lowry is a six-time All-Star and that you could legitimately argue is the greatest player in the history of the Toronto Raptors.
He is also a former NBA champion who has averaged over 17 points per game each season since 2013-2014.
He is known as a savvy defender who should mesh very well with current stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. On paper, this will give the club one of the best big threes and overall rosters in the East.
On the downside, Lowry is a 35-year-old, 15-year NBA veteran.
Several years ago, this move would have significantly changed the NBA landscape. While it is still a big move for Miami, his age does add room for skepticism.
Turn now to your 2021-2022 Knicks.
Their biggest splash was the surprise signing of star PG Kemba Walker. While a player like Lowry has experienced more postseason success and longevity, Walker’s prime production is superior.
Kemba was a bonafide superstar during his latter years as a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
He’s also can stake a claim to the title of the best player in his franchise’s history. At his peak, Walker averaged a stellar 25.6 points and 5.9 assists per contest. He is also a four-time All-Star.
While the 30-year-old UConn superstar does not have the same age concerns as Lowry, a series of knee issues have caused his career path to decline.
He was available to New York because the rival Celtics parted ways with the guard just two seasons after making him Boston’s prized free-agent signing.
Both players have considerable upside. Both could make a major difference in each respective franchise’s postseason success.
However, both also come with concerns that make their signings a gamble.