NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 26: Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets and Alec Burks #5 of the … More Detroit Pistons battle for the loose ball during the game at Barclays Center on January 26, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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The New York Knicks are in a situation in which they are pursuing a championship. The Eastern Conference is wide open after the brutal injuries to both Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton during the playoffs, and now the Knicks are saddled with the expectations of excellence.
The organization fired Tom Thibodeau for the sake of a championship. They hired an experienced leader that can collaborate with the front office in order to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. They swung big last offseason with their sights set on making it to the promised land that has eluded them since 1973.
They still have a few strings left to tie. The most notable of which is a roster spot for a veteran that was made possible when Guerschon Yabusele signed a deal with the team that left a little extra wiggle room in the first year of the contract. It’ll be interesting to see what they prioritize with the signing since they currently have a rotation that seems pretty set with some youngsters that already may be on the outside looking in.
Here are a few names that have been rumored as options along with a couple of other names to keep an eye on:
Ben Simmons
It was reported last week that there was interest from the Knicks in possibly signing the former number one overall pick. That noise quieted down after New York signed Jordan Clarkson and Yabusele, but things can change in a moment. Simmons would provide some defensive versatility and was a rotation piece for a playoff team just last year. The weaknesses are well known, and his fit issue with a player like Josh Hart may rule him out as a possibility.
Malcolm Brogdon
He should be a sought after free agent. The 32-year-old still has trouble with staying healthy, but he is still an effective NBA rotation player. He just won the “Sixth Man of the Year” award during the 2022-23 season, and he is considered one of the best leaders in the NBA. He’s an excellent scoring threat and can launch it from deep (even if he struggled last year). He lacks the same defensive tenacity from his youth, but he’d be great depth and puts a ton of pressure on the rim. The hesitancy from his end will probably come from a lack of playing time.
De’Anthony Melton
Marc Stein recently reported that it seems likely that a reunion between Melton and the Golden State Warriors is imminent. Even so, the pen has still not been put to paper. Melton was considered a steal by the Warriors last offseason when they signed him using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. He is now coming off of a torn ACL, but would do well to recover with one of the best training staffs in the NBA. He’d be able to slow play his recovery with the depth of the team, and could eventually provide the 3-and-D element that could be beneficial if any of the wings are forced to miss time.
Alec Burks
The last time that Burks donned a Knicks jersey he was the second best player on the court for New York. Literally.
Game Seven against Indiana during the 2024 playoffs might be one that fans want to forget, but Burks scored an absurd 26 points in 27 minutes. His second stint with the team was not as stellar as his first, but still he showed moments during that series that made fans interested in bringing him back. Instead, he darted to Miami and played well for the Heat this past season. He had a career high true shooting percentage and averaged over 17 minutes per game. His ability to handle the ball a bit and get hot from deep should make him a player worth watching.
Landry Shamet
Shamet has a similar story to Burks in that his regular season wasn’t too inspiring with the Knicks, but he showed his best self when it mattered most during the playoffs. His quick feet, effort level and willingness to fight through picks endeared him to fans so much so that his name was chanted at Madison Square Garden during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals . His shooting is always streaky, but he’s generally willing to let it fly after running off of screens. The team is devoid of any player that is a pure shooter so it may make the most sense to just bring back Shamet, especially since he knew how to play the 12th man role last season.
P.J. Tucker
This idea has been bandied about by some fans with the goal of adding a strong voice in the locker room. Tucker was brought in to be the communicator in order to get the players vocal on the defensive side of the court. His presence was essentially that of a coach with how little he actually played. It could make sense to use the roster spot on a player that can connect the locker room, especially if they have faith that the second year players are ready to take on prominent roles.