Let Kevin Durant and Mike Conley have the headlines, the New York Knicks should chase after these 10 names in free agency.
By Chip Murphy
The Knicks are always attached to the big names, no matter what the interest truly is on either side.
When free agency rolls around this summer the two names you will hear the most are Kevin Durant and Mike Conley, although it would be a miracle if either ended up in New York.
The Knicks chances of acquiring Durant and Conley are slim, and they should target the lesser known free agents.
Just because these players aren’t household names doesn’t mean they can’t help a team. Look at how much J.J. Redick has done for the Los Angeles Clippers, Jae Crowder for the Boston Celtics, and Ed Davis for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Knicks should kick the tires on all 10 of these under-the-radar free agents because if they really want to be contenders, they will need to add young talent and proven veterans.
10. Joakim Noah (C-CHI)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, .383/.000/.489
It’s strange to think that Joakim Noah could fly under the radar after all that he’s accomplished.
He’s been Defensive Player of the Year (’14), All-NBA First Team (’14), 2x All-Defensive First Team (’13, ’14), and a 2x All-Star (’13, ’14). Still, have you heard anyone talk about him?
Well there’s a reason.
Notice how all of his accolades stem from two years ago? Look closely and you’ll see the incredible drop off in his game.
The last two seasons have been a nightmare for Noah health wise. Noah was the leader of an elite defense coached by an elite defensive coach until this season, when that was all taken away from him.
New offensive-minded head coach Fred Hoiberg moved Noah to the bench in favor of Nikola Mirotic (all the good that did) and it led to the worst season of his career.
In 29 games, Noah scored just 4.3 points and grabbed 8.8 rebounds while shooting a putrid 38.3 percent from the field before being ruled out for the season due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
You might be saying, ‘Why the hell would Phil want this guy?’
Well here’s the thing, Noah isn’t one of the best passing big men in the game, he’s the best.
Even during last year’s disaster, he still led centers in assists (4.7). Noah, 31, can guard any position, and has remained a top-notch defender despite his supreme offensive drop-off; as evidenced by the fact that he held his opponent to a lower field goal percentage than normal, in ’13-’14, ’14-’15, and ’15-’16 (via NBA stats).
9. David Lee (PF-DAL)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 8.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, .526/.000/.779
David Lee‘s comeback season with the Boston Celtics was a bust. He rode the bench for a majority of the time before having his contract bought out.
Lee converted just 52.2 percent of his rim attempts and only 46.3 percent of his total attempts in the paint (via NBA Savant).
Since signing with the Dallas Mavericks Lee’s flipped a switch.
He’s been on fire, making an absurd 71.3 percent of his shots at the rim and 60.65 percent of his shots in the paint (via NBA Savant).
After 18 games in Dallas the 11th-year man from Florida is averaging 18.2 minutes, 9.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, while shooting 64.4 percent from the field, with a PER of 26.3.
According to NBA Stats, Lee is playing well with his back to the basket as he’s in the 75th percentile in efficiency on post up plays since joining the Mavs.
He’s gotten some of his offensive magic back and most importantly, he’d like to return to where his career began.
Lee spoke to the NY Post about how much he loved New York, and how he explored a return after his buyout. His words speak well for a reunion between the two sides.
8. Ty Lawson (PG-IND)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 4.4 points, 2.7 assists, .393/.333/.700
If Lee’s time in Boston was a bust, than Ty Lawson‘s time with the Houston Rockets was an absolute nightmare.
After his alcohol issues reached catastrophic levels in Denver, the Rockets were basically able to trade for him for nothing.
Lawson never looked like himself in Houston and his contract was eventually bought out after being bumped out of the rotation. Unfortunately, he hasn’t produced much for the Pacers either.
Lawson’s still just 28-years-old, so it’s hard to believe that the player who was once so good for the Nuggets has completely disappeared.
Just last season he averaged 35.5 minutes, 15.2 points, 9.6 assists, 1.2 steals. Denver didn’t want to get rid of him but they also had let too much go by the wayside, all because he was Ty Lawson.
If you can believe it,the guy was actually showing up to practices smelling of alcohol. It became obvious that both sides needed a change.
Unless Lawson has an incredible playoff run with the Pacers, he will be looking for another change this summer. And if he’s smart he’ll sign a short contract to try to reconstruct his value.
The Knicks should take advantage of this opportunity.
7. D.J. Augustin (PG-DEN)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 7.6 points, 3.2 assists, .425/.422/.810
Much like Lee, D.J. Augustin benefited from a change of scenery this season. Augustin is one of the best backups in the league and he would be a great veteran stop gap for the Knicks.
Augustin was struggling with his shot in 34 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading to a trade to the Denver Nuggets this season.
His numbers have skyrocketed ever since.
In 23 games with Denver he’s averaging 24.8 minutes (15.3 in OKC), 12.7 points (4.3), 5.2 assists (1.9), and 1.8 three-pointers made (0.7) on a slash line of .453/.441/.829 (.380/.393/.765).
Augustin has always been at his best in the pick and roll (which his numbers clearly show) as he’s only a 40 percent career shooter.
Augustin is fourth among all point guards in true shooting percentage (shooting percentage accounted for free throws and three-pointers), but his size is a killer.
Augustin, 28, is listed at 6-foot but that number is not fooling anyone. His defense prevents him from becoming a starter and he certainly wouldn’t be the point guard of the future.
Having said that, Phil Jackson and the Knicks could do a lot worse.
6. Courtney Lee (SG-CHO)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 9.9 points, 1.6 assists, .465/.393/.839
Courtney Lee was another causality of the NBA’s trade deadline, having been moved from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Charlotte Hornets in a three-team trade.
His shooting numbers in his 20 games with the Hornets have been absurd — 48.4 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from downtown — which is bolstering his chances at a big contract.
Lee’s greatest strength is his three-point shooting (career 38.6 percent), but if the long ball’s not falling he won’t be a great help on offense.
Unfortunately, Lee’s defense is very inconsistent, which is maddening. On some night’s he looks like Tony Allen and others, like James Harden.
It’s almost a certainty that Arron Afflalo won’t be back next season, so the Knicks will need to look in other places to fill their shooting guard needs.
Lee can give the Knicks just as much production as Afflalo, but without the headaches and for less money.
5. Jerryd Bayless (PG-MIL)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 10.4 points, 3.1 assists, .423/.437/.778
The Milwaukee Bucks’ Jerryd Bayless has had what ESPN’s Zach Lowe would call a “sneaky good” year. Bayless’ exceptional play has flown completely under the radar thanks to Milwaukee’s struggles.
The departure of Greivis Vasquez left a huge hole in the backcourt and put too much pressure on Michael Carter-Williams. With Carter-Williams falling short of expectations (to put it kindly) the Bucks needed another point guard to step up, and Bayless did.
Most people are pointing to Bayless’ incredible shooting percentage from downtown, but the variety of ways in which he he’s impacting the game on offense is more impressive.
Yes, Bayless is in the 95th percentile of points per possession on spot up plays, but he’s also been exceptional on iso, as he’s in the 81st percentile (via NBA Stats).
Like Augustin, Bayless would only be a stop gap but he’d be an excellent one that Jerian Grant could learn a lot from. Bayless has been around the block and will have plenty of teams chasing after him this summer.
4. Marvin Williams (PF-CHO)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 11.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, .447/.397/.840
Marvin Williams has reinvented himself with the Charlotte Hornets as a legitimate three-and-D threat.
Williams, 29, struggled to find a permanent home before ending up in Charlotte and may re-sign, but the Knicks should do everything they can to lure him away.
Williams has been one of this season’s best rim protectors, holding opponents to 45.5 percent on shots from that area (via Nylon Calculus).
Williams can guard both forward positions and at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3 inch wingspan, he alters a lot of shots.
Most importantly, Williams has had a profound effect on Charlotte’s offense. They have their best offensive rating when Williams is on the floor (107.0), a number that dips all the way to 101.1 when he’s not on the floor.
Williams is primarily a spot up shooter and an excellent one, ranking in the 81st percentile in points per possession on spot up shots/drives. He’s also excelled this season as the roll man (77th percentile) in the pick and roll.
Williams isn’t going to score a lot of points, but he’s definitely a game changer.
3. Allen Crabbe (SG-POR)
- Restricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 10.3 points, 1.2 assists, .461/.386/.861
Allen Crabbe has had a breakout season off of the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers. While he is often lost in the great play of C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard, Crabbe has been another big contributor for the Blazers’ shocking run.
Through 75 games the 23-year-old from Cal has been one of Portland’s top bench contributors averaging 26.0 minutes, 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 three-pointers made on a slash line of .461/.386/.861.
On a per-36 minute basis those numbers shoot up to 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.9 three-pointers made.
Crabbe has had an excellent shooting season.
He’s rated 12th among shooting guards in true shooting percentage, and in the 92nd percentile for points per possession on spot up plays.
According to NBA Savant, Crabbe’s making a ridculous 43.6 percent of his corners 3’s. Knicks’ fans need to look no further than Lance Thomas to know how effective a player can be when he’s converting 3’s.
Of course, none of this will matter if Portland decides they want to match whatever deal that is offered to Crabbe.
That however, doesn’t mean the Knicks shouldn’t look into him.
2. Evan Turner (SF-BOS)
- Unrestricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, .451/.208/.831
It’s already been established that Phil Jackson is a fan of Evan Turner, and why wouldn’t he be?
The Boston Celtics’ swingman has everything Jackson could want in a triangle player. Turner’s an excellent passer (4.4 assists) with a high basketball IQ (2.19 AST/TO), and his size makes him a great weapon.
So why does Turner fly under-the-radar? Well the guy can’t shoot.
For the season, he’s just 33.7 percent from the field off the catch and 38.8 percent on pull ups (via NBA Stats). Like too many players Turner tends to get jump shot happy, but he needs to stick to the paint.
The biggest downside to Turner is that he needs to have the ball in his hands to contribute.
He executes the pick and roll at a higher rate than Isaiah Thomas, but he doesn’t give Boston anywhere near the necessary points per possession.
The Knicks should simply pursue Turner out of need. They won’t be able to fix their franchise at the point guard position this summer, so adding an extra ball handler would be a huge positive.
1. Evan Fournier (SG-ORL)
- Restricted
- 2015-16 Stats: 14.9 points, 2.6 assists, .459/.406/.824
Evan Fournier started off the season on a hot streak, averaging 34.5 minutes and 17.8 points on a slash line of .462/.416/.829 in the month of November.
Fournier shot 62.9 percent in the restricted area and 45.9 percent on above the break 3’s.
As the season progressed Fournier cooled off, and so did the Magic.
They’ve under-performed this season but it has nothing to do with Fournier.
He’s heated back up in February (15.8 points, 3.2 assists, .488/.472/.893) and March (17.5 points, 2.1 assists, .495/.415/.800), but Orlando hasn’t been fortunate enough to bounce back with him.
Fournier has been one of the most efficient shooters in the league this season, ranking in the 84th percentile in points per possession on spot up plays and the 77th percentile when coming off screens.
He’s ranked fifth among shooting guards in in true shooting percentage and 14th among shooting guards in offensive real plus-minus.
The argument can be made that Fournier is Orlando’s most important player.
When Orlando wins, he has an offensive rating of 110.9 and a defensive rating of 98.8 with those numbers drastically changing in losses to 96.7 and 111.7 respectively.
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