The New York Knicks are enjoying one of their better seasons in recent NBA memory, but a recent slump has the team looking for veteran help.
Currently sitting at No. 3 in the Eastern Conference with a 40-23 record, a roster led by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns is looking to reach their first Finals since the 1998-99 season.
As the Knicks transitioned to a more offense-focused team this season with the addition of Towns, their defensive performance has dipped, moving out of the top ten in points allowed from a season ago.
Defensive lapses have shown themselves in games against the league’s top competition, with the Knicks holding a 0-7 record against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
To answer this problem before they enter the throes of the playoffs, the Knicks have made a late season roster move.
According to Shams Charania on Mar. 8, ex-Milwaukee Bucks veteran P.J. Tucker will join the Knicks on their playoff push on a 10-day contract.
Tucker last touched the court when he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2023-24 season, where he was in playing time purgatory.
After not playing a single minute this season, Tucker was traded to the Utah Jazz before the trade deadline. Shortly after, he was moved to the Toronto Raptors for three weeks before being waived.
Tucker, a seasoned player and 2021 NBA champion with the Bucks, will bring a much-needed defensive presence to a team currently lacking grit.
After losing Brunson on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers for an extended time, the Knicks could use some invaluable veteran leadership that Tucker gleaned from his championship run. His role on the Bucks as a Swiss army defensive tool against any position helped secure their first title in 50 years.
It remains to be seen how the Knicks will respond to this recent three-game slide and whether Tucker will bring the intensity needed in the locker room.
