The New York Knicks just completed the 2021 NBA Draft, but they still need to address the small forward position.
*This is another piece in the free agent series. If you missed any, here is the New York Knicks free agents, point guard free agents, and shooting guard free agents.*
The New York Knicks need to go back to the well and find some more shooters and lengthy defenders to help improve this team. However, it won’t be easy because there aren’t many viable free agents at small forward.
Sure, the Knicks hope Kawhi leaves the Los Angeles Clippers and comes to New York with his Uncle Dennis. But, unless there is a lot of back-channel talks going on with William “World Wide Wes” Wesley, that is very unlikely at this point.
Although challenging, the most reasonable option for the Knicks right now is to look through free agency (unless they get a trade that works out in their favor). That way, the team doesn’t have to trade most of their players or numerous draft picks while they’re still in the mode of acquiring and developing talent.
So below is a list of the top five small forward free agents. But first, some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Kawhi Leonard: Yes, it would be nice to get Kawhi. But the latest on him is that he’s likely to re-sign with the Clippers. So, for now, we can put the “Kawhi to the Knicks” thoughts to rest. Plus, we know he wants to stay in his hometown of Los Angeles to be close to his family.
Reggie Bullock: According to Marc Berman, the Knicks would love to have Bullock return. However, it will depend on whether or not he wants more money.
Frank Ntilikina: Berman also reported that if the Knicks cannot re-sign Bullock, they may be open to bringing Frank Ntilikina back. But if Reggie does come back, this is an “either-or” situation.
New York Knicks’ Top Five Options at Small Forward
5. Justise Winslow
Current Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Free Agent Status: Potential Unrestricted Free Agent – Memphis may decline his option
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 35.2 field goal percentage, 18.5 three-point percentage, & 57.1 free throw percentage.
As of right now, Justise Winslow isn’t an unrestricted free agent. So the Grizzlies can pick up the option on the last year of his contract, which is this upcoming season. However, it’s unlikely that Memphis keep’s Winslow now after trading for Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams because the Grizzlies need the cap space to absorb Bledsoe’s and Adams’ contracts.
New York should definitely do their due diligence if Justice Winslow becomes a free agent (which looks pretty likely). Yes, Winslow has been more injured than available, and the best ability is availability. But since there is so much potential in Justice Winslow, he’d be worth taking a flyer on because he’s an athletic wing that can play the one through five on offense and defense (when healthy).
There have been moments on offense when Winslow can handle the rock and distribute like a point guard. Then there are situations where he plays like a wing and can shoot from beyond the arc or drive down the lane and finish through contact. And then there are times where he can find the mismatch and work the post and finish around the rim like a traditional big.
As for defense, Winslow has demonstrated that he’s capable enough to guard the perimeter and protect the paint. He still has much more to learn, especially when it comes to making rotations. But Winslow won’t to allow his opponent to blow by him or get uncontested shots easily. Essentially, he’s not someone who will crumble a team’s defense.
Winslow is an excellent buy-low candidate because there is the hope that he can turn his career around like Shaun Livingston, Julius Randle, or Jordan Clarkson. But the expectation isn’t that he becomes a Sixth Man of the Year candidate (like Clarkson) or second-team All-NBA (like Randle). Instead, it’s more along the lines that he is a valuable role player like Livingston was.
If the Knicks were to offer Winslow a contract, he’d probably get a one-year prove-it deal or a two-year deal with a team option. And he’d earn somewhere between $5 million to $10 million because he was on a two-year $13 million contract and didn’t live up to those expectations.
4. Doug McDermott
Previous Team: Indiana Pacers
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 53.2 field goal percentage, 38.8 three-point percentage, & 81.6 free throw percentage.
I can already tell that some Knicks fans have PTSD after seeing Doug McDermott’s name. And it’s totally understandable after his lackluster play when he was a Knick. But if McBuckets can play as he has in Indiana, then New York should consider signing him.
We know McDermott is mainly a three-point specialist. That’s why he’s a career 40.7 three-point shooter. He’s essentially in the same vein as Kyle Korver and Steve Novak. Granted, those guys played better defense than McDermott.
As well all know, New York can use more three-point shooters even though the Knicks were third in three-point percentage. Granted, the stat is misleading because the Knicks ranked 27th in three-point attempts and 21st in made threes. So bringing back McDermott, whose sole focus is to take threes and cut to the basket, would help the Knicks if Bullock doesn’t return.
And speaking of cutting to the basket, that is one area where McDermott really improved this season. According to Cleaning the Glass, McBuckets finished 69 percent of his shots around the rim (207/299), which placed him in the 81st percentile amongst wings.
One concern, however, is adding McDermott when the Knicks don’t have many playmakers or shot creators. Everyone saw what happened to the Knicks with the lack of playmaking and shot creation in the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta was able to narrow in on Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Derrick Rose and prevented New York’s offense from clicking.
McDermott isn’t a wing that will create for others or can generate his own buckets consistently. Of course there will be nights where he goes off, but that isn’t the norm.
Another concern is that McBuckets isn’t a good defender. Unlike Bullock, McDermott can be caught sleeping, out of position on a rotation, and allows his opponents to blow by him. So it’d be interesting to see if McDermott could step his game up with Thibodeau at the helm.
If New York decided to sign McDermott, he’d probably earn between $13 to $16 million annually on a three or four-year contract. He would be pricey for a guy that doesn’t play great defense. But he’s worth it based on the NBA becoming an offensive league anyway.
3. Kelly Oubre Jr.
Previous Team: Golden State Warriors
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 15.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 43.9 field goal percentage, 31.6 three-point percentage, & 69.5 free throw percentage.
I know. I know. The fanbase is split on Kelly Oubre Jr., and rightfully so. He’s not an automatic knockdown shooter, and he provides slightly above-average defense. But unlike the guys I previously mentioned, he isn’t as injury-prone as Winslow, and he is more well-rounded than McDermott.
Oubre doesn’t necessarily have one skill that truly stands out, but he’s an athletic wing that can shoot threes, cut to the hoop, create his own shot, play decent defense, and provide some highlights from time to time.
But if there is one thing that I must give credit to Oubre for, then it’s his ability to draw fouls. Per Cleaning the Glass, he ranked in the 79th percentile of drawing shooting fouls and the 63rd percentile of non-shooting fouls – both amongst wings. So his foul drawing ability would help, considering the Knicks finished 23rd in the league in total free throw attempts with 1,506 attempted shots (the Washington Wizards were first with 1,884 free throw attempts).
Now I know that Oubre didn’t have an excellent free-throw percentage this season. But he is a career 76.4 percent shooter, so there should be some optimism that he can bounce back.
If the Knicks were to make a move for Oubre, he’d probably earn a two or three-year deal earning $15 to $18 million annually. If it’s a three-year deal, I’d expect the last one to be a team option so that Oubre would have to demonstrate that he’s trending in the right direction.
2. Torrey Craig
Previous Team: Phoenix Suns
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1 assist, 48 field goal percentage, 36.8 three-point percentage, & 77.3 free throw percentage.
Torrey Craig isn’t a name that would probably excite many, but he would be a solid 3&D pickup.
When watching Craig, he isn’t going to light up the gym with his offense, and that’s because he’s a low-volume shooter. But even though he’s a low-volume shooter, he is efficient with his shot selection.
Now that doesn’t mean that Craig won’t take bad shots here and there. But he understands his role and tries to capitalize on his limited opportunities. That’s why he finished the season with a 56.6 effective field goal percentage.
The central aspect of Craig’s game is that he will provide lockdown defense at the wing, which is what contending teams are looking for. That’s why he’s been part of three top playoff teams in the last TWO seasons — the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns.
If the Knicks were to get Craig, he’d undoubtedly be a backup because he doesn’t provide enough offense to space the floor. Although, this may change if New York has point guard that could create floor spacing.
Craig would probably get a contract between two to three years between $5 million to $9 million annually because he’s proven to provide a good veteran presence and has been consistent every year in the league. He’s carved out a role and has been true to it every year.
1. Will Barton
Previous Team: Denver Nuggets
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent – Opted out of player option for 2021-22 season.
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 12.7 points, 4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 42.8 field goal percentage, 38.1 three-point percentage, & 78.5 free throw percentage.
Will Barton recently opted out of his contract with Denver. Some believe that he will re-sign with the team and restructure his contract. But This may also be a time for him to test the market and see what’s out there, considering he’s been with Denver for seven seasons.
If the New York Knicks could snag Barton this offseason, he would be a solid signing as a small forward. It’s debatable if he’d be an upgrade over Bullock because Barton isn’t as good as a three-pointer shooter like Bullock is (based on volume and makes). However, Barton is a more versatile small forward than Bullock because not only does Barton provide floor spacing like Bullock, but Barton can create for himself and others and play good defense.
Even with Barton’s thin frame, he’s capable of dribbling past defenders and contorting his body to finish difficult layups. He’s not necessarily the most outstanding finisher by any means, which is why he’s ranked in the 25thpercentile with shots around the rim. But at least he offers a trait that keeps defenses on their toes.
And with regards to Barton’s playmaking, he is usually creating for others (mainly off the pick and roll) or being the connector after an initiated play. But Barton was usually the second or third ball-handler in any lineup. That’s why he ranked in the 63rd percentile in usage to assist ratio amongst wings – he ranked in the 71st percentile in usage and the 73rd percentile in assist percentage amongst wings too.
On the defensive end, Barton is an excellent defender. He often makes his rotations on help defense, closing out on the perimeter, contesting shots without fouling opponents, and preventing his players from blowing by him for easy layups. And even with his lean built, Barton has no issue taking contact to make life difficult for opposing teams.
Barton would probably command a contract of around $18 million over four years. That’s because he provides versatility, veteran presence, and playoff experience that most teams want.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering why Andre Igoudala and Trevor Ariza were omitted, it’s because they’re coming to the end of their careers. Sure, they’d provide a significant veteran presence on the bench like Taj Gibson. But the Knicks need guys who can play and contribute on both ends of the court on a nightly basis, and they can only have so many of those bench role models on the team.
Let us know who you would want the New York Knicks to sign at small forward! Either in the comment section below or in the social media comments section of where this piece is posted!
