13 Players the New York Knicks held onto for too long
By Tyler Watts
12. Andrea Bargnani
Andrea Bargnani was the number one overall pick by the Raptors in 2006, but he is largely viewed as a bust. The seven-footer spent seven years in Toronto, but he struggled to stay healthy as he entered his prime. Bargnani’s best season came in 2009-10 when he averaged 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 35 minutes per game over 80 contests. His scoring went up over the next two years, but his defensive numbers slipped, and he played just 97 games combined.
His minutes and productivity dropped off in 2012-13, but that did not stop the Knicks from trading Marcus Camby, Steve Novak, Quentin Richardson, one first-round draft pick, and two second-rounders for the former number-one overall pick. New York had made the playoffs three straight years and just advanced to the second round for the first time in 13 years right before acquiring him.
Bargnani failed to bounce back as he played just 42 games in his first season in the Big Apple. It marked three straight years with fewer than 45 contests played, and the Knicks could have cut ties with the 28-year-old after that. Instead, they kept him for a second season where his scoring increased, but he only played 29 games.
Andrea Bargnani departed in the summer of 2015 after two seasons with the New York Knicks, but the damage was done. He played just 71 games and the Knicks won just 54 of a possible 164. It was a regrettable move by the franchise, and New York should have cut their losses after one season when it was clear things were not going to work.