The Knicks have several areas in need of improving this offseason, with some in the franchise believing that acquiring a lead guard who creates shots should be a top priority for the team, Ian Begley of SNY writes.
Other focal points (prior to Leon Rose being hired) included finding a big man who can spread the floor, Begley notes, adding that one opposing executive in contact with New York said part of the team’s offseason thinking will be finding players who complement RJ Barrett.
“If you want to complement Barrett, that’s where I’d go,” the executive said. “Adding (a guard and big man who can shoot from the perimeter), you space the floor and make things easier for him. The floor was so crowded for them this year.”
The Knicks held a 21-45 record when the NBA season was suspended indefinitely on March 11, good for fourth-worst in the Eastern Conference and sixth-worst in the league. The team had an underwhelming 2019 offseason and fired head coach David Fizdale 22 games into the campaign.
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- It remains to be seen whether the Heat will be able to retain Derrick Jones Jr., Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. Jones, a gifted athletic forward who has noticeably improved on offense, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end with COVID-19 likely to impact the league financially and Miami trading for wing players Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder in February. The Heat also have several other players set to reach free agency, complicating matters even further.
- Josh Robbins of The Athletic examines why the Magic will prioritize finding a backup point guard for Markelle Fultz in free agency, with both D.J. Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams set to become free agents. Fultz averaged 12.1 points and 5.2 assists in 28.3 minutes per game, proving his worth on both ends of the floor at just 22 years old.
- Eric Koreen and Blake Murphy of The Athletic explore how various return-to-play scenarios would impact the Raptors. Toronto currently holds a record of 46-18, sporting a nucleus of Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka and others.
I see a lot of places hyping up Derrick Jones Jr as a FA signing for multiple teams but I’m not sure I quite agree.
Yes he improved well this season and is extremely athletic but I think people think to much of him that what he’s actually given so far.
I mean last season he played 25 minutes and averaged 9 points, 4 rebound and 1 assist. He shot 27% from 3 point range which for a wing isn’t good at all and he’s never been much of a shooter ever.
If you compare that to Jae Crowder he looks terrible. He averaged 28 minutes and put up 12 points 6 rebounds and 2 assists, shooting 40% from 3.
I understand if you a young team with cap space DJJ is worth more than Crowder but if your the Heat or a playoff team/competitive team then Crowder or a lot of other players would be better pick ups.
I mean DJJ is likely to get 12mil plus and Crowder likely signs for less than 10mil.
Crowder shot 32 percent from three last year. You want to count the 40 percent he shot in 13 games with Miami and ignore the 29 percent he shot in 45 games in Memphis? It doesn’t work that way.
I was comparing DJJ to his team mate (Crowder while in the heat).
You could say Jones Jr is a career 27% from deep compared to Crowder 33.5% from deep. Either way the point way why is Jones worth so much more when Crowder is a a much better shooter and rebounder. If your a championship team then Crowder is definitely the player you want
Also, neither one of those guys is going to get nearly as much as you think they will. Crowder will be lucky to get 5 million.
DJJ is getting a lot of interest and so think he could get 12-15mil as for Crowder I think he could get anything from 4-12mil depending on who is interested.
If I’m the heat I’d rather Crowder easily
The magic hates shooters
Knicks are doomed if they are trying to make trade，not overpay players such as VanVleet Harrell Morris
30 million overpay contract is the only path to make playoffs
DJJ and Crowder are tax payer MLE players
6 million each year
All Knicks available players are unwanted
Knicks are rebuilding. There’s no rush. All the stories point to Randle being traded. Just don’t see where. I guess we’ll see. Best option for Knicks is Halliburton. Been saying it for 5 months now. He’s a IQ PG. Who doesn’t make mistakes. Plays big time D. And is long physically. Needs muscle, but he will fill in. A PG that runs team and makes sure. His team mates get the ball where they like it. He gets his numbers easy. He makes the gm simple. And at end of gm. He has 16 and 10. He can backup up Payton. Eventually will start. There’s no rush. We need to get DSJ and Nttilikina value back up. Either keep Payton or Frank to backup Halliburton. Move the other two for shooters. Mitch has to play consistent mins next yr. It’s time to step up. 30 mins a gm minimum. Stop the fouling already. Knicks are rebuilding. They need a solid draft (NO BALL) please. Get the right coach to develop. And they can make a major move next yr. or at deadline. We have 6 number one picks next 3 drafts. Plus cap space next yr or this yr. we have options. There is no need to panic and give away assets. Develop the picks ourselves. See what we got. Deals will come to us. Just concentrate on developing young talent.
If I were Silver, I am not Allowed the world capital to rebuild the team 20 years
For 6 consecutive years Knicks play ping pong games, that is too much
It’s time to win now
Heat could very well retain both DJJ and Crowder on the MLE scale, sure hope so.
It’s not their shooting or 3pt percentage that makes them solid rotation players.
It’s the Defensive intensity they bring in guarding multiple positions.