Arron Afflalo‘s ability to score and his smooth transition to the triangle offense have proven him an effective offseason addition for the Knicks, observes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Still, Afflalo’s time in New York could be short-lived, since he can turn down a player option worth $8MM and hit free agency again next summer.
“He’s been really valuable,’’ coach Derek Fisher said. “He has that attacking, aggressive mindset that is contagious. You need guys on the floor who have to play in the moment, willing to make the plays and take the shots.’’
See more on the Knicks amid our check around the Atlantic Division:
- The Afflalo signing, as well as the team’s deals with several other veterans, came with the stewardship of Kristaps Porzingis in mind, Fisher said, as Berman details in a separate piece. One of the moves Fisher mentioned was the surprise addition of Sasha Vujacic, Berman notes. “That was a big part of why we specifically went after certain guys in free agency — Robin [Lopez], Arron, guys who can provide that type of leadership and example,’’ Fisher said.
- Soon-to-be free agent Tony Wroten and offseason signee Kendall Marshall are returning to health for the Sixers, but they’re not a seamless fit, as Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News examines.
- The Raptors‘ bench has underwhelmed this season, and beyond replacing free agent signee Luis Scola in the starting lineup with Patrick Patterson, Eric Koreen of The National Post suggests a trade for a veteran scorer. Toronto doesn’t have much in the way of mid-level salaries to spare for an easy swap, but it does have extra draft assets, Koreen writes.
- Still, the Toronto organization doesn’t regret letting Lou Williams leave in free agency over the summer, and while the Raptors‘ bench scoring has fallen drastically, the team’s reserves still have a positive net rating thanks to the front office’s intended defensive upgrades, notes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.
I don’t see Wroten or Marshall as the long-term point guard answer in Philadelphia, so it doesn’t matter much how they fit on a team that may not win 10 games.