With GM Phil Jackson recently tweeting out his expectations for the 2016-2017 Knicks, it appears that the front office is done with their off-season moves. New York has gone through a sizable overhaul in the recent months as they look to bounce-back from their 32-50 campaign last season. In this article, we will take a closer look at who the Knicks managed to snag in free agency, giving a brief outlook on what we can expect from each player in the upcoming season.
*This will exclude the Derrick Rose/Justin Holliday deal, since they were acquired via trade. For more info on that transaction, click here.*
*Additionally, to access our Brooklyn Nets free agency grades, click here*
*Additionally, to access our Brooklyn Nets free agency grades, click here*
C Marshall Plumlee
Age: 24
Previous Team: Duke University (NCAA)
Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent
Contract Details: 3 year deal worth ≈$2.5 million
Summary:
After a nice summer league showing, the Knicks gave a guaranteed deal to Plumlee, the brother of both Mason (Trailblazers) and Miles (Bucks). Marshall was originally slated to join the army after spending four seasons at Duke, but opted to follow his brothers' footsteps and join the NBA.
As a 7 footer, he provides terrific size off the bench and could find himself getting considerable playing time if injuries occur. At Duke, he received a huge vote of confidence last season, receiving roughly 30.5 minutes per game. For comparison sake, his previous high was 9.6 minutes per game in the earlier season. In 2015-2016, he averaged 8.3 PPG with 8.6 REB for the Blue Devils.
Grade: C+
C Willy Hernangomez
Age: 22
Previous Team: Sevilla (Euroleague)
Acquired: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round pick
Contract Details: 4 year deal worth ≈ $5.8 million
Summary:
Hernangomez was a draft-and-stash experiment by the Knicks last year after they bought into the NBA Draft. Standing at 6'10" 240 lbs, many project him to become a stretch-4 type of player, which gives coach Jeff Hornacek a ton of optimism.
Hornacek recently talked about the addition of Hernangomez, saying "He's a big body, he's skilled, a low post guy who will fit well in our system."
The new coach also went on to say that he expects Hernangomez to be the team's backup center going into next season.
Willy is very close friends with Kristaps Porzingis, as the two had played together for Sevilla a few years back. He averaged 5.8 PPG with 3.7 REB in 40 Euroleague games last season.
Grade: B
SG Courtney Lee
Age: 30
Previous Team: Charlotte Hornets
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent
Contract Details: 4 year deal worth $48 million
Summary:
Lee has had trouble finding a home during his 8-year professional career, so this multi-year contract may come as a breath of fresh air. A shooting guard out of Western Kentucky University, he has had NBA experience with the Grizzlies, Rockets, Celtics, Magic, Nets, and Hornets. Lee started the 2015-2016 year with the Grizzlies, and was shipped to Charlotte in a three team deal.
In 28 games for the Hornets, he averaged 8.9 PPG while shooting 39% from the 3 point line and 89% on his free throws. His best season came all the way back in 2009 as a member of the Nets, averaging 12.5 points in 71 games.
He has proven to be a reliable scorer in the league, and should fit in nicely with the Knicks offensive system. It is expected that, given the sizable contract, he will slide right into the starting shooting guard position.
Grade: A-
C Joakim Noah
Age: 31
Previous Team: Chicago Bulls
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent
Contract Details: 4 year deal worth ≈ $72.6 million
Summary:
Perhaps the most controversial move of the off-season, the Knicks brought in Noah, a former defensive player of the year and two-time All-Star for the Chicago Bulls. A few years ago, Noah was as good of a big man as you could find in the NBA. To elaborate, in 2013-2014, he averaged 12.6 PPG, 11.3 REB, and 5.4 AST for a playoff-bound Bulls team.
Last year, however, he was ravaged with injuries, only participating in 29 games, starting just 2 of those. During that time, he had seen his minutes drop considerably, thus seeing a large hit in his numbers. In 2015-2016, Noah averaged 4.3 PPG and 8.8 REB while battling playing time with names like Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol, and others.
Noah will be a question mark going into next season, and $72.6 million is a large investment for someone like him. However, with the salary cap higher than it has ever been, many had expected him to receive a lucrative deal on the open market this off-season.
The Knicks likely were intrigued by the idea that Noah and Derrick Rose, whom the team acquired last month, have had plenty of success together in the NBA. Additionally, Noah is a local product, growing up in New York City, so that may provide an extra boost.
New York will hope that Noah manages to stay on the court next year, and perhaps even return to the All-Star that he once was.
Grade: B-
PG/SG Brandon Jennings
Age: 26
Previous Team: Orlando Magic
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent
Contract Details: 1 year deal worth $5 million
Summary:
Jennings had been connected to the Knicks for some time before this off-season, but the Knicks finally decided to bring in the young point guard on a one-year commitment. A 7 year veteran, Jennings has fallen off grace considerably in the recent years. In 2014-2015, he averaged 15.4 PPG and 6.6 AST for the Detroit Pistons, but it was halted by a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his year.
He was traded by the Pistons to the Magic this past February in a deal for SF/PF Tobias Harris. Coming off of the bench for Orlando, he had put up 7.0 PPG with 4.0 AST while shooting 34% from the 3 point line.
Although he hasn't seen major success in the league in a few years now, this is still worth the investment. A $5 millon deal in today's market isn't too bad, and the Knicks needed an insurance plan behind oft-injured point guard Derrick Rose.
If Jennings can stay on the court and return to a fraction of what he was with the Bucks and Pistons from 2009-2014, New York may have found themselves a nice surprise.
Grade: A+
SF/PF Lance Thomas
Age: 28
Previous Team: New York Knicks
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent (Originally in three team deal with OKC and CLE)
Contract Details: 4 year deal worth ≈ $28 million
Summary:
When the Knicks dealt Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to Cleveland in January 2015, they did not expect to receive any notable pieces to come their way. It was simply a salary dump, but they managed to find a nice lottery ticket in Lance Thomas. Originally from Duke University, Thomas had seen NBA action with the Hornets/Pelicans and Thunder before coming to the Big Apple.
Two seasons ago, the Knicks were amidst their worst season in franchise history, and Thomas was one of the few bright spots for those who were still watching them. In 40 games, 24 of which were starts, he averaged 8.3 PPG while playing excellent defense.
Last year, although he battled health issues, he put up similar numbers (8.2 PPG in 59 games). The combo forward figures to back up Carmelo Anthony going into next season, and has the ability to provide a spark to the bench unit.
Grade: B+
SF Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Age: 26
Previous Team: Siauiliai (Lithuania)
Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent
Contract Details: 2 year deal worth $5.9 million
Summary:
Kuzminskas is a low risk option for Phil Jackson, but may have trouble finding playing time with the excess amount of small forward's already on the team. Last year in the Euroleague, he had put up 11.1 PPG while shooting 86% from the free throw line.
ESPN NBA draft insider Fran Fraschilla had compared Kusminskas to NBA veteran Jonas Jerebko, who has carved himself a fine career in the league. Fraschilla also said this about the 26 year old Kuzminskas "He's athletic, he runs, he can jump and guard 3s and small-ball 4s."
For the rest of Fraschilla's analysis, click here.
Grade: C+
SF/PF Maurice Ndour
Age: 24
Previous Team: Real Madrid (Euroleague)
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent
Contract Details: 2 year deal worth $1.4 million
Summary:
Ndour was with the Knicks last year, playing for their summer league team. In that time, he had impressed, but New York was outbid by the Dallas Mavericks for his services. The Mavs had eventually released him, and Ndour went on to ink a deal with Real Madrid to rebound his value.
Although he does not have a set position, he has experience at both SF and PF. Some project that he has the ability to become a Chris Copeland/Landry Fields type of player, which wouldn't be too bad considering this is a very low investment.
Grade: B-
PG/SG Sasha Vujacic
Age: 32
Previous Team: New York Knicks
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent
Contract Details: 1 year deal worth $1.4 million
Summary:
The Vujacic signing comes as a surprise to some since he did not provide much to last year's team. With the Knicks in 2015-2016, he averaged just 4.9 PPG in 61 games, shooting 36% from the 3 point line and 82% with his free throws.
Vujacic and Phil Jackson are very close, having won multiple championships together on the Lakers, so perhaps this contract is a testament to their relationship. It would be unreasonable to expect any kind of major contribution from Vujacic next season, so we will just assume that this move is a roster filler.
Grade: C
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