The New York Knicks have been one of the bigger surprises thus far this season. While they have struggled a bit out of the gate in the second half, going 1-3, they are still in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-21. A point guard is still a need and it sounds like Lonzo Ball could be a long-term option.
The last two of the Knicks’ three losses came excruciatingly, as they fell just short against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, the two best teams currently in the Eastern Conference. New York’s flaws were present as ever in those games, as they struggled to knock down shots in crunch time.
The Knicks’ long-term needs are clear. They have foundational pieces in All-Star Julius Randle and Rising Star selection RJ Barrett. What they need is a point guard that can help lead the team on both ends of the floor.
While Elfrid Payton has had some positive moments, he is not the long-term answer. Neither is Derrick Rose, who will be 33 later this year. Immanuel Quickley has had a great rookie season and could eventually develop into the long-term point guard, but if we know anything about Tom Thibodeau, it is that he wants to win as soon as possible.
Could their point guard problems be answered this offseason? New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball is someone the Knicks are high on, and now it sounds like Ball has similar feelings about the Knicks.
“The Post has learned the Knicks, with plenty of cap room, would be heavily on Ball’s radar as a restricted free agent,” said Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The Pelicans, who are notoriously afraid of the luxury-tax, chose not to give Ball a rookie contract extension in December. Ball will look to cash in this summer as a restricted free agent, and the Knicks should aggressively pursue him.
Ball is one of the up-and-coming point guards in the league. He is an elite playmaker and defender, and with his improving jump shot is moving up the point guard ranks in the NBA.
He is averaging a career-high 14.2 points with 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. His 42.6 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 76.7 percent from the foul line are all career-highs as well.
The Knicks are currently in a bad way at the point guard spot with Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose both sidelined. Quickley needs to develop more as a playmaker and Frank Ntilikina is proving once again offense is not his strength, as he is scoreless in the second half of the season.
Ball would help fix a lot of those problems, but it is not clear if the Pelicans will move him before the NBA trade deadline. If he is made available, expect the Knicks to be in on the action, as they have also been linked to Pelicans sharpshooter J.J. Redick.
Could the Knicks swing a trade for both of them? We will have to watch and see. Even if the Knicks don’t trade for Lonzo Ball, expect them to be aggressive in pursuing him after the season should he reach restricted free agency.
