NBA Free Agency 2016: 5 targets New York Knicks
By Jaylyn Cook
1. Dwight Howard (C)
Howard’s name has swirled around as a potential Knicks target since he decided to opt out of his contract with the Houston Rockets, and honestly, it may be a pursuit worth attempting.
Yes, Howard is nowhere near the player he was when he and the Orlando Magic made it to the NBA Finals in 2009. He’s also gained the reputation of being difficult, soft, and a “cancer” to most NBA teams – which, as someone who suffered through his season as a Laker, I can fully attest to.
However, if Howard finds himself in the right situation – meaning he’s got the right coach, the right teammates, and the right amount of touches – he’ll try his hardest to put on a show. When he first signed with Houston, he looked like his old, aggressively muscle-y self for a while. It wasn’t until injuries took their toll, and James Harden eclipsed as the sole face of the franchise, when things started to take a turn.
Howard joining the Knicks would mean that he gets to play alongside an eclectic combination of All-Stars and rising stars, he’ll get all the attention one could ever want under the bright lights of Manhattan, and he’ll play under the watchful eye of Jackson – a man who tapped into the minds and egos of several stars before Howard and pushed them to play their best brand of ball.
Shaq didn’t become Shaq Diesel until he teamed up with Jackson. The same goes for Kobe, Scottie Pippen, and Pau Gasol. Andrew Bynum even defied expectations with Jackson as a coach.
I’m certain the Zen Master has an ace up his sleeve regarding a swift courtship of the man once known as “Superman.” It’ll be interesting to see what direction he and the Knicks decide to take.
What players do you think the Knicks should target this off-season? Sound off in the comments below!
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