NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the New York Knicks
Things have been rough over the past 12 months (and longer) for the New York Knicks. But all it takes is one shrewd signing to turn things around. Here are five players the Knicks should target this summer.
The Knicks have a realistic path toward nearly $20 million in cap space this summer. Getting there would require renouncing Derrick Rose, Ron Baker, Justin Holiday and Sasha Vujacic. Baker is the only player New York might realistically want to hold onto, but he is a restricted free agent whose qualifying offer costs only about one million dollars. Just to keep things semi-realistic, let’s operate under the conditions that the Knicks offer Baker a qualifying offer and renounce the other three players heading into free agency on July 1.
As a rebuilding team, the Knicks are in dire need of talent from any source. They just picked up a young French point guard prospect named Frank Ntilinkina in the draft, and will be looking to further stock their cupboard of prospects. New York can also count Willy Hernangomez and Kristaps Porzingis as a part of their core. They could use talent in any spot, and should focus on young veteran players coming off their first contracts. Here are the five best fits for the New York Knicks in free agency this year.
5. Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls
A divorce between Mirotic and the Bulls would not be surprising. The 2016-17 season was a massive setback for the Bulls organization, as infighting and poor play wrecked a competitive team. Chicago asked a lot out of Mirotic this year; he was the only plus shooter on a team in dire need of floor space. The Montenegrin big man only shot 34.2 percent from 3 this year after an incredible 39 percent season in 2015-16. The Knicks can trust his shooting in their offense, and he offers versatility as well.
An underrated part of Mirotic’s offense is his face-up game. He can use the threat of his shot from 3 or mid-range to create space for himself to drive. His footwork is good enough that once he has a few inches of room, he can drive past a defender and get a good shot up from the paint. He doesn’t offer a ton on defense, but perhaps there is still hope that he could execute a team scheme with talent around him. He’s quick on his feet, which can help a team featuring Carmelo Anthony.
Mirotic would fit nicely next to Porzingis and Hernangomez, two players who are taller and more athletic than him, with better defensive instincts. With either player, there would be a nice variety of playmaking and defense on the court. Considering the question marks New York has at point guard, adding talent around that spot could make sense. Mirotic’s shooting and isolation offense would ease pressure on a young guard.
However, there is a chance that with so much money already tied up in Anthony and Joakim Noah and with young talent already on the roster, the Knicks might want to avoid investing in the frontcourt. Almost all of New York’s 2017-18 money is tied up in the forward and center positions. Unless they can shed one or more of those deals, it’s hard to believe they would pull the trigger on Mirotic. If the team can move Noah or Anthony, though, Mirotic would be a great fit in New York.