After what was perhaps one of the most disappointing seasons in an illustrious list of awful seasons, the New York Knicks are once again looking to re-tool their roster. This year however, the Knicks will approach their offseason with a specific type of player in mind — two way threats that can help them on both offense and defense.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN, the Knicks have shown interest in P.J. Tucker, Jonathan Simmons and Dante Cunningham once free agency begins in July. New York is also looking to re-sign G/F Justin Holiday, who flourished with the Knicks off the bench last season.
Simmons may be a tough grab for the Knicks after a breakout postseason with the Spurs. He's become a fan favorite in San Antonio, and the Spurs can match any offer since he's a restricted free agent. Tucker, who played under Knicks' head coach Jeff Hornacek with the Suns, might be the most realistic option for New York. He's a gritty defender, and has developed into a reliable three point shooter over the past few seasons.
Cunningham, who spent time with the Timberwolves and Pelicans last season, would most likely be a contingency plan for New York if they strike out on the aforementioned players.
The Knicks, who ranked 23rd in total defense last season, struggled to guard players on the perimeter all year long. Knicks' President Phil Jackson stated he would be looking for active wing players in the draft and free agency, and Tucker, Simmons, and Cunningham seem to fit the mold.
Of last year's disappointing offseason haul, the only player that had a solid season for the Knicks was 3-and-D shooting guard Courtney Lee, who averaged 10.8 points per contest and shot a respectable 40.1 percent from three along with his usual defensive prowess.
Look for New York to mimic their lone free agent win last offseason by targeting similar players in this year's pool.
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