Stop us if you’ve heard this before over the last 20 years, but the New York Knicks finished last in the Atlantic Division this season.
With the Celtics and 76ers rattling off 51 wins apiece, the Raptors’ young core arriving a year ahead of schedule and the Nets sleep-walking their way into the No. 7 seed, the Knicks were once again the division’s bottom-feeders.
With significant cap room and ample draft capital, the Knicks will aim to tighten the gap with their Atlantic Division rivals this offseason. Will that come in the form of a blockbuster trade or free-agent signings? Nobody knows, but Leon Rose and the front office will seemingly have no shortage of avenues to do so.
This roster could use some fresh faces, and swiping some talent from within the division would qualify as a win-win scenario. While the Knicks’ short-term outlook might be the bleakest of the five teams, the idea of playing in the Garden for an up-and-coming team could be the perfect recruiting pitch.
With that in mind, here are three Atlantic Division free agents New York should consider pursuing this offseason.
3 Atlantic Division free agents the New York Knicks can sign
3. Shake Milton
As of this writing, Shake Milton doesn’t qualify as a need, but the Knicks figure to be busy reshuffling their roster this offseason. Could that include flipping Alec Burks for a draft pick or young asset? You bet.
Milton could step in and fill the Burks role or assume a deeper spot on the bench alongside Cam Reddish and Jericho Sims.
Over the last three years (when he became a regular part of the Sixers’ rotation), Milton has averaged 10.4 points and 2.6 assists while shooting 45.4% from the floor, 37% on threes and 82% on free throws in 21.5 minutes.
As someone who can play both backcourt positions, the Knicks can do a lot worse than Milton in terms of filling out Tom Thibodeau’s bench and it never hurts to add an extra ball-handler, especially considering Derrick Rose played just 26 games this campaign and will turn 34 in October.
Milton has an affordable $1.99 million club option next season, but Philadelphia could let him walk following the ascension of Tyrese Maxey and assuming they bring back James Harden on his $47.78 million option.