3 Atlantic Division free agents Knicks should consider adding

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New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Nic Claxton

Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

2. Nic Claxton

The Nets humiliated themselves in the first round of the playoffs and a huge offseason looms for general manager Sean Marks, as Bruce Brown, Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, Nic Claxton, LaMarcus Aldridge and Goran Dragic are all free agents. Additionally, Kyrie Irving and Patty Mills have player options.

We’d like to see the Knicks pursue Brown, but assuming Brooklyn re-signs the versatile defender, Claxton would be quite the consolation prize.

Of course, the prevailing narrative surrounding the franchise is Mitchell Robinson’s future as he enters free agency for the first time in his career. It would be a terrible look for the front office if they let Robinson walk after they bypassed the chance to trade him for assets when they had the chance.

While Claxton isn’t the rim protector Robinson is, he has huge upside in that department and can even handle his own in pick and rolls against guards. The Georgia product has a slim frame for a center, but he has the athleticism and length to be a strong post defender if he adds some weight in the offseason.

Like Robinson, Claxton’s offensive game needs time to develop, but he has a deeper bag than the Knicks’ free agent and he just turned 23 in April. That upside will otherwise be tough to find in free agency and he’d cost less than Robinson, which would allow the front office to allocate its resources to other needs.

Who says no?