The New York Knicks were one of the winners of NBA free agency as they were able to lure quality players in Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker. The acquisitions, even at face value, immediately filled the void on offense. Julius Randle was the only reliable scorer on the squad last season. RJ Barrett also embraced the offensive chores but had understandable problems with consistency.
As always, the goal is to win the title. Will Walker and Fournier immediately propel the Knicks to title contention? Not really—at least in the coming season. Can they guide the Knicks to a deeper postseason run? Perhaps a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals? There's a good possibility.
Let's look at the grades of the Knicks for each key signing.
Evan Fournier: A+
Fournier inked a four-year, $78 million deal with the Knicks. For his career, he boasts averages of 17.1 points and 3.4 assists per game. He's also a career 41.3 percent shooter from deep. This makes Fournier a very reliable offensive weapon behind Randle and Barrett. Looking at his career, Fournier is a true professional right from the get-go. He doesn't mind coming off the bench or being a member of the starting five.
Last season, the Knicks had a 110.2 offensive rating which ranked 22nd in the NBA. No doubt they need a player like Fournier who can swish the net with consistency. It's easy to imagine Randle kicking it out to a wide-open Fournier. The French sniper doesn't just hit three-pointers, he's also a good finisher at the rim. He'll essentially take the spot of Reggie Bullock who the Knicks lost to the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.
Apart from getting a facelift on offense, having a veteran just bodes really well for a young team like the Knicks. They can pat themselves on the back for a job well done in the 2020-21 NBA season. From the looks of it, they just need more experience in high-octane and tense playoff situations. Fournier has been to the postseason four times. He surely has learned a ton and will gladly share it with the likes of Randle, Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and others.
Kemba Walker: A
It was clear to everyone that Walker did not want to play for a rebuilding team at this point in his career. Despite being sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder, everyone expected him to leave as soon as an opportunity arises. At the same time, Walker ending up with the Knicks was rather unprecedented. The Knicks were already a good team. As noted, they needed more time together and the addition of a few pieces, particularly role players who can score. Instead, they got an All-Star caliber player in Walker.
There's a lot of discussion about Walker's status. Is he still an elite guard? Is he entering the twilight of his career? Have knee injuries taken a toll on his body? All of these are still a matter of wait-and-see. At the end of the day, the Knicks still got a quality guard in the former Connecticut standout.
As a guard, Walker's role will be to run Tom Thibodeau's offense. The good thing about Walker is that he's not purely an orchestrator. He also looks to score by way of his deadly step-back jumper and crossover or even the occasional catch-and-shoot. His dynamic offensive style complements Randle very well. The man was the center of Thibodeau's offense last season and there's no reason to believe it'll change in 2021-22.
Follow Us
Subscribe