Goran Dragic, Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) – New York Knicks
1. Goran Dragic
Goran Dragic wouldn’t have to move too far if he was to come and join the Knicks. The 36-year-old started last season in Toronto but ended up joining the Brooklyn Nets where he appeared in 16 regular-season games.
Dragic isn’t too far removed from being a driving force for a Miami Heat team that made the NBA Finals a couple of years ago.
Anyone who watched that amazing playoff run saw just how impactful and clutch Dragic can be. He’s very much a player who makes “winning plays” on offense. That experience and sure-handedness is something that could really benefit New York.
Even though Dragic isn’t very far removed from being a starting point guard on a Finals team, it does feel like Father Time has started to catch up with him. Dragic has dealt with a lot of injuries in the last two years. He’s only appeared in 37 games over the last two seasons — not ideal.
Dragic isn’t exactly known as a defensive stalwart either, especially at his age. With that being said, in a smaller role, Dragic could prove to be a smart addition for the Knicks. He’s someone who has always seemed to have a knack for choosing his spots wisely. To Walt Clyde Frazier’s delight, he’s someone who loves to keep his dribble and keep plays alive.
Bringing on someone like Dragic could be terrific for the development of some of New York’s younger perimeter players. Someone like Quickley, who struggles to get into the paint, could pick up on some of the crafty techniques utilized by Dragic, a player who, like Quickley, isn’t the most explosive vertical athlete.
New York Knicks’</a> upcoming offseason. While there isn’t typically much consensus among fans and pundits as to what the “correct” offseason game plan is, this summer seems particularly… unexciting?</p>
<p>Of course, that can all change the second a star player requests a trade. But going off of what we know for sure (the free agent class) there isn’t a ton of potential big splashes out there.</p>
<p>A few potential big names such as Jalen Brunson have certainly been floated around, but not only is this free agent class weaker, but the Knicks aren’t in any sort of slam-dunk position to spend money and they could explore some cheaper roster upgrades.</p>
<h2>Could the New York Knicks explore some “discount” point guard options?</h2>
<p>There are so many different directions that the Knicks could go at point guard. After last season’s shortcomings of Kemba Walker and Alec Burks, something will change.</p>
<p>In all honesty, my preference would be to just rock with Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose as the point guards and <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/09/young-playoff-stars-awaken-knicks-immanuel-quickley-obi-toppin-potential/">really see what Quickley is made of in his pivotal third season as a pro</a>. However, bringing in another veteran option could potentially make sense.</p>
<p>I understand how that could be triggering for some New York fans. This idea of “low risk/high reward” cheaper players all sounds good until Thomas Thibodeau forces them to play well beyond their limitations. You don’t want to bring in a vet to play 30 minutes a game, but rather, for them to play a <em>small</em> role and actually help the team improve.</p>
<p>At point guard, the Knicks have sorely missed a player who can help orchestrate the offense and get people in position for easy buckets. Here are a few of the point guards they could look at.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A former All-Star </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_128020" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128020" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2222,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1391664856.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2222" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1391664856.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1391664856-768x533.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Goran Dragic, Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>1. Goran Dragic</h3>
<p>Goran Dragic wouldn’t have to move too far if he was to come and join the Knicks. The 36-year-old started last season in Toronto but ended up joining the Brooklyn Nets where he appeared in 16 regular-season games.</p>
<p>Dragic isn’t too far removed <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30094923/miami-heat-goran-dragic-active-game-6-nba-finals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from being a driving force</a> for a Miami Heat team that made the NBA Finals a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>Anyone who watched that amazing playoff run saw just how impactful and clutch Dragic can be. He’s very much a player who makes “winning plays” on offense. That experience and sure-handedness is something that could really benefit New York.</p>
<p>Even though Dragic isn’t very far removed from being a starting point guard on a Finals team, it does feel like Father Time has started to catch up with him. Dragic has dealt with a lot of injuries in the last two years. He’s only appeared in 37 games over the last two seasons — not ideal.</p>
<p>Dragic isn’t exactly known as a defensive stalwart either, especially at his age. With that being said, in a smaller role, Dragic could prove to be a smart addition for the Knicks. He’s someone who has always seemed to have a knack for choosing his spots wisely. To Walt Clyde Frazier’s delight, he’s someone who loves to keep his dribble and keep plays alive.</p>
<p>Bringing on someone like Dragic could be terrific for the development of some of New York’s younger perimeter players. Someone like Quickley, who struggles to get into the paint, could pick up on some of the crafty techniques utilized by Dragic, a player who, like Quickley, isn’t the most explosive vertical athlete.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A younger veteran </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_127522" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-127522" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1396775449.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, Tyus Jones" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1396775449.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1396775449-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Tyus Jones, Memphis Grizzlies. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>2. Tyus Jones</h3>
<p>Tyus Jones is already <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/09/knicks-rumors-new-york-reportedly-interested-free-agent-point-guard-tyus-jones/">a name that has been floated around the Knicks’ rumor mill</a>. The 26-year-old guard has now played seven seasons in the NBA and is set to become an unrestricted free agent.</p>
<p>Jones started his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves but has spent the past four years in Memphis playing a backup role to star point guard Ja Morant.</p>
<p>Jones has always seemed to have an “edge” to his game and I think that’s something that his advocates will preach this offseason. He’s undersized at 6’0” tall, but he always seems to be doing the little things on the court, which is why he’s been able to stick around in the NBA and carve out a role for himself.</p>
<p>Being just 26, Jones will want to go somewhere where he can play solid minutes. And while he won’t break the bank, he seems like the type of player who can get a more sizable contract than initially anticipated, especially given how thin the point guard market is.</p>
<p>That’s where it gets tricky for New York, who could be a potential suitor for Jones. Even if the contract ends up somewhere in the $8 million per year range, I’m not sure that the Knicks are in a position to give out another solid chunk of multi-year contract money after spending on Julius Randle and Evan Fournier last season.</p>
<p>They’ve got plenty of potential contract extensions on the horizon as well. What it really comes down to is if New York thinks Jones has another gear he can hit with the Knicks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A renowned playmaker </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_128123" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128123" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1361781614.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Ricky Rubio" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1361781614.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1361781614-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Rubio, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
</div>
<h3>3. Ricky Rubio</h3>
<p>What a sad story it was for Ricky Rubio to go down with an injury last season. The veteran point guard, who has always been a really solid player, took on a new level of leadership last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.</p>
<p>Rubio <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rubiori01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">played in 34 games</a> for Cleveland last year and was instrumental in turning a young franchise that had zero expectations heading into the season into a team that was flirting with the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference before he went down with a season-ending injury.</p>
<p>There wasn’t a player or coach on that Cavs team who wasn’t singing the praises of Rubio and just how important he was for their young roster.</p>
<p>The hope here would be that Rubio could have a similar effect for the Knicks and at a discounted price coming off an injury. It would also be nice to have him on the team as opposed to scoring 37 points on New York like he did last year.</p>
<p>Out of these three options, he would be my personal preference. Rubio’s skillset in the backcourt is something I wholeheartedly believe could transform the Knicks. This is a player who is a “pure” point guard that knows exactly how to get his teammates in scoring position.</p>
<p>New York’s offense is difficult to watch. The Knicks have players who can create for their teammates, but no one who can do so at a consistent and efficient level. Rubio would do wonders for RJ Barrett, for Obi Toppin, for Quickley, for Fournier — he can make high-level reads and process a defense at an elite speed.</p>
<p>He’s not the “quintessential Tom Thibodeau point guard” but really, who cares about that anymore? Coming off an injury is certainly a risk, but Rubio might be worth it if he can help this team not only rack up more wins next season. but help develop their young players by putting them in better opportunities to succeed.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="8AmrqbhqId"><p><a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/23/comparing-6-free-agent-trade-options-knicks-immanuel-quickley/">Comparing 6 free agents/trade options to Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/25/3-cheap-free-agent-point-guard-options-knicks-pursue/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/23/comparing-6-free-agent-trade-options-knicks-immanuel-quickley/embed/#?secret=8AmrqbhqId" data-secret="8AmrqbhqId" width="500" height="282" title="“Comparing 6 free agents/trade options to Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley” — Daily Knicks" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div><!—pageview_candidate—>">