3. Taj Gibson
When the New York Knicks signed Taj Gibson, it came to the surprise of no one. Gibson had proven to be a great asset in the locker room during the 2019-20 season after being signed as a free agent. His familiarity with Tom Thibodeau’s system from their days with the Chicago Bulls was also a positive, as Thibodeau likes having former players on his roster.
However, no one expected Taj Gibson to play meaningful minutes. Alas, that is the situation the Knicks are now staring down the barrel of.
Gibson has shown that he is still capable of providing spot minutes. He brings toughness, leadership and a high IQ to the court. He also brings some spacing, as he can knock down 15-18 footers if left open. However, at 35 going on 36 years old, it is fair to question how much he has left in the tank.
Gibson will be in the Knicks’ rotation going forward with Mitchell Robinson sidelined. You know what you are going to get with Taj Gibson on the court and Thibodeau trusts him. His rapport with Derrick Rose is another thing that will help get him acclimated quickly to rotation minutes again. Hopefully, those two can recreate some of the success they had in Chicago together with Thibs.