The New York Knicks make a move to bolster their now-deep front court with the signing of Kevin Seraphin. Where does he fit exactly?
By Bryan Pol
Weeks removed from the Vegas Summer League, Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills are looking to round out the New York Knicks‘ roster with capable, hard-working players.
On Friday, as first reported by Real GM’s Shams Charania, the Knicks inked former Laker Sasha Vujacic to a one-year deal.
The New York Knicks have reached agreement on a one-year deal with free agent guard Sasha Vujacic, league sources tell RealGM.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 31, 2015
The move was puzzling, considering Vujacic, having played only two games (for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013-2014) over the past four seasons, has not endured regular NBA duties since 2011.
Initially, it was rumored that Vujacic was merely brought on as an extra body to compete in training camp, but Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News confirmed the deal would be guaranteed for the entirety of the 2015-2016 season.
At his best, Vujacic was a sound spot-up shooter who could barely create his own shot, but that was as a rotation player on a championship contender. At his finest, he was a solid 12th man to round out a roster. That looks to be his role again with New York, only now, the Slovenian is well past his prime. Off the court, Vujacic was connected to Maria Sharapova, once engaged to the Russian tennis starlet, but the two split in 2012. Unless the two rekindle affairs, and we find Sharapova courtside again to create some buzz at the Garden, this deal is quite inconsequential.
On the other hand, the Knicks did well to bolster their front court, signing center/forward Kevin Seraphin, formerly of the Washington Wizards, to a one-year, $2.8 million deal. The contract does not hinder the Knicks’ ability to be players in free agency yet again in 2016, and coach Derek Fisher now has another interior piece to spell newly acquired free agents Robin Lopez, Kyle O’Quinn, and Derrick Williams, draftee Kristaps Porzingis, and Carmelo Anthony.
Basketball Insider’s analyst Tommy Beer sees much promise in the young Seraphin, who spelled Marcin Gortat quite often at the center position in 2014-2015.
Shrewd, smart signing by Phil. A young (Seraphin is 25) big w/ enticing upside. Another Low-risk/ high-reward move. https://t.co/cs2VM7fZ1k
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 4, 2015
Seraphin has posted solid per-36 minute stats over the last two seasons: 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds & 1.7 blocks
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 4, 2015
At only 25, Seraphin brings skill, tenacity, and youth to a Knicks’ team that had a dearth of such qualities prior to Phil Jackson’s arrival. He can score, rebound, and play defense in very much the same fashion the newly acquired Robin Lopez can, an aspect missing from the Knicks’ roster once Tyson Chandler departed for Dallas.
While the Vujacic acquisition looks to be a bust, at least initially, the Seraphin deal rounds out a deep front court, now a strength, for New York.
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