How should the Knicks approach the point guard position this offseason?
The Knicks find themselves in a familiar place: entering the offseason with big questions at the point guard spot. Will they turn to free agency or trades for a solution, or could the answer be on the roster already?
The New York Knicks have a clear problem that must be addressed: the point guard position. The expectation was for Kemba Walker to lead a more offensive-oriented lineup to more points and efficient shooting in 2021-22. Obviously, those expectations quickly evaporated, and after Derrick Rose’s injury, there was been a series of questions as to who is most suited to run the point guard position amidst the hardships. Is an out-of-position Alec Burks a better option than Immanuel Quickley? Should the Knicks go after guys out of their market such as Jalen Brunson and Dejounte Murray? Let’s take a look at that.
What can the Knicks do in free agency?
The Knicks have a few out-of-market options they can pursue. While the Knicks are actually short on cap space this offseason thanks to their spending last summer, they likely have avenues to either trade some of their expiring contracts (Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel), move someone like Julius Randle or Evan Fournier, or execute a sign-and-trade.
Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson is a free agent after this season. With the massive leap he has taken from last season to this season, he is sure to receive decent offers from several teams. The young guard is currently averaging career highs in points (16.3), rebounds (3.9), and assists (4.8) per game. Brunson would provide solid playmaking (24.3% AST%) and efficient shooting (58.3% true shooting) to a team that could certainly use both.
Brunson was also elevated into a more consistent role by the Mavericks this season, as he was inserted into the starting unit alongside Luka Doncic and saw a massive minutes increase. Pairing Brunson with guys like RJ Barrett and Evan Fournier will provide them with a great facilitator that can set up those two up with more open looks.
Another option that exists is Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton. Sexton went down with a meniscus tear after only playing 11 games this season. He is a restricted free agent this summer, and after Darius Garland’s superstar breakout season, the expectation is that Sexton will seek to play elsewhere.
One worry that exists is how Sexton will recover from his injury. An explosive offensive guard like him could become a step slower on defense and have less offensive prowess after suffering a season-ending knee injury in only his fourth season. Sexton had a breakout 2020-21 averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game on very efficient shooting (57.3% true shooting on 18.4 field goal attempts per game), so his value is still high, meaning his asking price will likely not be cheap.
What about making a trade for a point guard?
The Knicks will enter this offseason with considerably less cap room than they did last year, especially after signing Fournier last free agency and extending Randle. However, just because those two signed long-term deals does not necessarily make them untouchable. The Knicks could very well seek trade options for either one of those guys if it means constructing a better roster, especially if their limited cap room prevents them from signing a premier free agent.
Someone that the Knicks might have their eyes on in the trade market is Spurs guard Dejounte Murray. Murray had a breakout season in 2021-22. He became an All-Star for the first time, and is consistently categorized as one of the league’s most underrated players. Murray provides great playmaking abilities (9.2 assists per game, 40.6% AST%), solid inside scoring (65.6% at the rim), and size at the point guard position. There are some hurdles, however. The Spurs likely feel that Murray is an important piece towards rebuilding a contender given how young he is (25), and he’s signed to an extremely affordable extension that maxes out at $17.7 million in 2023-24, meaning San Antonio’s asking price could be high.
In order for the Knicks to have a serious chance at obtaining Murray, they would likely have to blow away the Spurs with an offer, which may include offering Randle and/or Fournier plus a young player and picks. A similar return could be in order if they pursue stop-gap options like Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon or Rockets guard John Wall. Given the love-hate relationship Knicks fans have with Randle and Fournier because of their inconsistencies, and the fan base’s willingness to move on from them, a trade involving either one of those two (or even both) likely would be met with open arms from fans. Time will tell if the front office feels the same.
Do the Knicks have an internal point guard option?
The short answer: Yes. Will Tom Thibodeau be willing to use someone who has gotten limited experience as a main option? That is to be seen.
Knicks fans have been anxiously waiting for the day that Thibodeau changes up the rotation. Instead, he has stuck with Alec Burks at point guard, leaving Immanuel Quickley and Deuce McBride lodged on the bench or playing out of position. Fans have grown impatient, as they feel that Thibs is too stubborn to play his younger assets more often, which in effect stalls their development. Many wonder how big of a role he would give younger pieces that currently have larger roles on opposing teams, considering how he has treated the ones he currently has.
Thibodeau has subjected Burks to playing out of position, which can be a difficult task for someone that has never played point guard before. A simple solution would have been to elevate Quickley to the starting unit, as he is an actual point guard and has more recently shown that he is capable of running an offense. After pulling Kemba Walker from the rotation only a month into the season, the expectation was that sooner or later Quickley would be inserted as the new starting point guard. Unfortunately, Thibodeau’s egregious decision to play an out-of-position player at the centerpiece position of the offense limited Quickley to his usual bench role until the final game of the regular season, despite IQ’s deservedness for an increased role late in a lost season.
One immediate benefit for the Knicks in starting Quickley would be the pace of play. The Knicks were 29th in the league in pace, and in the majority of those games Burks started and took up the bulk of the minutes at point guard. Quickley’s high intensity on the court with his electric shooting and improved playmaking provides an instant pick-me-up. IQ has also proven numerous times that he is not afraid of the big moment. Many times he is out there with the starting unit deep into fourth quarters, creating a giant shift in pace and hitting clutch shot after clutch shot on several occasions.
Quickley, to some, may serve as a stop-gap, but in reality he provides many of the things the Knicks need the most out of the point guard spot: efficient shooting, solid playmaking, crafty defense, and, most importantly, high energy. After the failed Kemba experiment, testing the waters with a younger, healthier point guard in Quickley could provide huge benefits towards his long-term development, and could provide a huge benefit to the team as well. He would certainly be a solid go-to point guard should the Knicks elect to stay inactive in the offseason markets.
What about Deuce McBride? How will he fit in?
The answer to this question is murky. The 2021 second round pick out of West Virginia was in and out of the G League several times throughout the season. Deuce has put up otherworldly performances in the G League, signaling that he is simply too talented to be stuck there. However, he has struggled to receive consistent NBA minutes, even with the lack of depth at his position.
It is difficult to picture what his role could potentially look like when Derrick Rose returns from injury next season. McBride provides elite on-ball defense and solid playmaking. Despite his spotty shooting, his defensive leadership has proved to have a gigantic impact on the team’s overall defensive scheme. Playing alongside Rose could provide major benefits for Deuce, as he can learn a thing or two from playing next to a former MVP, much like Quickley did as a rookie. He could also serve as a potential late-game defensive stopper for the perimeter, or take on a similar role to Andre Roberson on the Thunder during his playing days.
There’s just one problem that exists for Deuce’s potential playing time. Finding minutes for McBride could be pretty difficult assuming Rose returns to his sixth man role, as guys like Quentin Grimes, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin, Jericho Sims, and the Knicks’ upcoming lottery pick all have to be able to fit into the rotation. Thibodeau has also expressed reluctance to experiment with a rotation that includes more than nine guys, even during the stretch of games where the Knicks were out of playoff contention, so unless that mindset changes next season, McBride could potentially be the odd man out in 2022-23 and may be subject to a decreased role if Thibodeau continues to stick with his peculiar game plan.
What is the overall outlook for the Knicks’ point guard woes?
Well, you can expect (or perhaps, hope) to no longer see Alec Burks starting at point guard next season, as the team’s struggles as well as Burks’ individual struggles should be a signal to the front office and the coaching staff that they need to change things up. Thibodeau interestingly had a very short leash for Walker after a month of struggles, but did not carry the same leash for Burks when he struggled mightily on both ends when starting there. Clearly, the Knicks have more problems outside of the point guard position, but it has been the most glaring due to the coach’s reluctance to try something different amidst a rough patch. The best case scenario for the Knicks would be that they learn from the failed experiments they tried throughout the course of the season, and look to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
With that being said, the expectation right now would be that next season the Knicks will have a new starting point guard, whether it is someone within the organization or elsewhere. It is all up to the front office as well as the coaching staff to tackle the situation and hopefully find a better option than what Knicks fans endured this season.
