It’s crunch time for the New York Knicks, who still have some room on their roster to sign A-list talent. But, as the clock keeps ticking away, the chances for the New York Knicks to land some really solid players is going down, because it’s getting late in the offseason for additions.
New head coach Mike Brown is doing his best to craft the kind of team that he wants and who can execute his fast plays, but the team just missed out on a player who could have been the perfect fit. Unfortunately, that player has now signed to another NBA team and is off the table.
What Could Have Been for the New York Knicks
GettyHead coach Mike Brown speaks to media during his introductory press conference at New York Knicks Training Facility.
The Milwaukee Bucks are in the process of signing Amir Coffey to a one-year minimum deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. This is the kind of player who could have thrived with the Knicks and served an important role in the squad.
It’s not the end of the world or anything, but Coffey could have served a small but important part on the team. Even though the Knicks have their main 12 roster spots filled, there’s a real need for depth, and that can make or break a team.
In a Friday, August 15, piece for The Daily Knicks, NBA expert Dan Favale says that Coffey is a “28-year-old wing who fills in gaps at both ends, Coffey could have been a difference-maker, even if only on the margins.”
Favale adds that the Knicks appear to be “bent on landing a guard with the next veteran’s minimum contract it doles out. That makes some sense when looking at its secondary ball-handling options off the bench.”
He also says, “Deuce McBride is nowhere near a traditional floor general, and Josh Hart isn’t someone who can run a ton of half-court offense. Adding Jordan Clarkson will help, but he’s a scorer first, second, and oftentimes, third.”
NBA Player Could Have ‘Filled the Gaps’ in New York Knicks Lineup
Favale goes on to note that “Coffey could have instantly filled in the gaps,” especially when it comes to “defensive versatility.”
“He spent at least 17% of his possessions last season lining up versus 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s, while finishing in the 86th percentile of ball-screen navigation, according to BBall Index,” he adds. “Just three other players did the same in as many minutes: Keegan Murray, Derrick Jones Jr. and Taurean Prince.”
It’s worth noting that this is a training camp only contract for Coffey, according to reports from Eric Nehm of The Athletic. In a piece also published on Friday, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports says that “Amir Coffey deserves an NBA roster spot. He is coming off a career season with the Clippers, averaging 9.7 points a game, shooting 40.9% from 3, playing 24 minutes a night on a 50-win team.”
So, the New York Knicks could have given him more than a training camp contract. But, that’s in the past, and it’s time to move forward, and Brown and the crew certainly will.
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