The New York Knicks could target Tim Hardaway Jr.
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The New York Knicks could target Tim Hardaway Jr.
If there’s one area the New York Knicks could improve, it would be their perimeter shooting within the second unit. Because, while the Knicks’ bench is fourth in perimeter shooting percentage, it’s 19th in perimeter attempts.
Adding another catch-and-shoot threat that can also attack off the bounce would provide some additional balance to Mike Brown’s roster.
In a recent article from Bleacher Report, Grant Hughes named Tim Hardaway Jr. as a low-cost option to improve New York’s bench rotation next season. Hardaway Jr is currently on a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
“Maybe old pal Tim Hardaway Jr. would be willing to accept the minimum for a return tour,” Hughes wrote. “He’ll be 34 next year but can still get up plenty of threes. In fact, he’s on track to set a new career high in accuracy from deep with the Nuggets. Even if he can’t sustain his current 40.3 percent clip, Hardaway is a reliable source of shooting.”
Brown has both Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson at his disposal. Both have been solid rotation players this season. However, Hardaway is a better catch-and-shoot threat, can provide tertiary playmaking and is comfortable with the rock in his hands. Assuming Clarkson and Shamet leave the franchise this summer, Hardaway would be a strong addition.
Jalen Brunson Is Proud Of Knicks Latest Win
When speaking to the media following the Knicks 111-89 win over the Boston Celtics, Jalen Brunson praised the team’s commitment on both sides of the floor.
“You’ve gotta give credit to other players. We needed to get back to what we do and focus up. I think we did that today,” Brunson said. “We just have to move forward knowing what we need to do as a team, regardless of who we play. This is a good step for us. We were just connected on defense. They can get hot fast…And they have a lot of range with a lot of shooters. I think we were just reconnected. We tried to make things as difficult as possible. Also, a little bit of luck, maybe missed a couple of shots. We know what they have over there, they’re gonna be ready next time we play.”
Boston’s success with multiple perimeter threats is further proof that adding another shooter to the second unit could make sense. Nevertheless, when looking at the Feb. 8 win over Boston, it’s New York’s defense that deserves credit. Brown’s team held Boston to 17.2% shooting from deep.
Knicks Are Serious Contenders In The East
After a rough patch, the Knicks have righted the ship. They’ve won 9 of their last 10 games, including an impressive double overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. There’s growing momentum within the franchise, and if they can harness that momentum, there will undoubtedly be a significant threat in the postseason.
New York came into this season among the favorites to come out of the East. With performances like we saw against Boston, there’s no excuse why we shouldn’t expect to see some NBA Finals games at Madison Square Garden later this year.