The New York Knicks‘ offseason has been highlighted by adding depth, but they aren’t done compiling a strong roster in hopes of making a run to the NBA Finals.
New York landed Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, but recent reports say they should eye another rotational player to come off the bench as a proven veteran.
According to ClutchPoints, the Knicks should target former player Alec Burks. While former number one overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Ben Simmons, is still available on the trade market, New York should focus on fit rather than landing a big name.
“Simmons may clog up the offense. There’s also the durability question; Simmons hasn’t played more than 42 games in a season since 2020,” Rohan Brahmbhatt of ClutchPoints wrote. “While Simmons brings name value, Alec Burks offers reliability…More importantly, Burks plays with confidence, moves well without the ball, and defends multiple positions.”
Burks averaged 7.3 points and 2.5 rebounds on 42.5% from three last season for the Miami Heat. Simmons averaged five points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists for the Los Angeles Clippers. Both would likely come to the Knicks on veteran minimum contracts.
New York Needs A Good Fit
While Burks has been on eight different teams since 2018, he would come in as a bench player for a Knicks team that needs all the depth it can get. He is versatile, knows his role, and has shot over 40% from three in four of the past five seasons.
“Burks fits into virtually any lineup. He spaces the floor, allows (Jalen) Brunson and Clarkson to operate freely, and can even serve as a secondary ball-handler in pinch situations,” Brahmbhatt added. “He’s a low-maintenance, playoff-tested veteran who’s seen every defensive scheme imaginable. At this stage of his career, Burks doesn’t need minutes promised, just a defined role on a winning team.”
Burks previously played in New York from 2020 to 2022 and had another stint early in the 2023-24 season, making an average of $6 million a year across those three separate seasons. In a return to the Knicks for next year, he would likely come in on a veteran minimum deal for around $3.6 million, a great discount for this contending Brunson-led team.
In a separate article on ClutchPoints, NBA insider Brett Siegel gave another option for the Knicks. He mentioned that free agent Trey Lyles could also come in as a good fit. He’s a player with length, a good shot from deep, and previously played alongside Karl-Anthony Towns at the University of Kentucky in 2014-15 on a team that lost one game all year.
“Given his experience in this league, Lyles can be a great late-offseason addition to any team wanting to beef up their frontcourt,” Siegel wrote. “Perhaps a team like the Knicks, which have limited space remaining and has two roster spots to fill, could add Lyles.”
Simmons Might Not Be The Best Option
Opposingly, a Simmons fit in New York might not be the greatest. The Knicks like using a double-big lineup, and the former first overall pick wouldn’t be a strong addition to that style. Simmons doesn’t shoot threes, would clog the paint, and take the ball out of Brunson and Clarkson’s hands as a playmaker.
While many compared Simmons to Magic Johnson early in his career, he has yet to hit the peaks he reached in his first few seasons in the NBA. He remains a skilled player, and at 6’9″, he is still a competent defender, but just on fit alone, New York doesn’t seem like the best landing spot.
“If the Knicks sign Simmons, it must be under the assumption that his role is purely situational. He could be used as a matchup-based defensive stopper or a transition spark plug. But unless he’s fully healthy and embraces a lesser role, the upside is limited.”
New York made the offseason additions of Clarkson and Yabusele to sure up bench depth on low-impact contracts. They will likely lose Precious Achiuwa in free agency, but have kept their core of Brunson, Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart together for another deep run next year.
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