The New York Knicks’ search for a new head coach has dominated the early offseason talk surrounding the franchise. After firing Tom Thibodeau following the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, New York must pinpoint the coach to help them build on their recent success.
However, the Knicks’ front office must also keep an eye on the free agency market. Like every team in the league, the Knicks must look to improve the current rotation. One key area for the Knicks to improve will be their perimeter shooting. New York finished 24th in the NBA for total threes made last season.
In a recent article for The Athletic, James L. Edwards III pinpointed sharpshooting playmaker Luke Kennard as a potential target.
“Luke Kennard,” Edwards wrote. “The soon-to-be 29-year-old is one of the best shooters in basketball and also sneakily could be a secondary or tertiary ballhandler for New York, which desperately needs that skill set on its roster. Over the last five seasons, Kennard has made at least 43 percent of his 3s while also attempting at least four per game. He’s a sniper. Plain and simple.”
Kennard would instantly provide legitimate floor spacing and some tertiary playmaking. His presence would open up the floor for his slashing teammates while also providing the Knicks with a genuine catch-and-shoot threat. Whether New York has the cap space necessary to make him an enticing offer will remain to be seen, though.
Knicks Should Target Mike Brown as Head Coach
In the same article that Edwards pinpointed Kennard as a potential free agency target, he also highlighted Mike Brown as the most logical candidate to fill the head coaching role.
“Of all the coaches who are reportedly connected with the Knicks hiring search, who has the best fit with the current roster in terms of their philosophy & schemes?,” Edwards III wrote. “For me, it’s Mike Brown. He crafted some intricate and fun offenses over his time in Sacramento, and while personnel plays a part in that, I do think he’s learned enough along the way to adjust to a different roster with the Knicks.”
Brown impressed during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings and has also had stops with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. If he is willing to step into the hot seat, the Knicks would be wise to snap him up and turn their attention toward the summer. After all, the focus must be on winning a championship. The sooner that becomes the priority again, the better.
Knicks Have ‘No Interest’ In Kevin Durant
Outside of the Knicks coaching search, Kevin Durant’s immediate future has been a dominant discussion point. The aging superstar is reportedly set to be traded by the Phoenix Suns. However, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the Knicks will not be in the mix to land the veteran forward.
“When you take into account the history that involves Kevin Durant and how James Dolan was led to believe that KD and Kyrie [Irving] were on their way to the Garden and they elected to go to Brooklyn and then KD piggybacks off of that when asked about it in the months to follow and calls the Knicks corny and how they ain’t “cool,”” Smith said on a June 17 episode of ESPN’s NBA Today. “…That residue is where you hear no interest and you’re saying ‘Well, this can’t be just about basketball.’ This has to be about you feeling a bit salty if you’re James Dolan.”
