NBA Rumors: Gilbert Arenas to Knicks Will Put New York on Miami Heat's Level
If the New York Knicks take a shot on recently-waived scoring guard Gilbert Arenas this month and add him to a offensively-gifted line up that already features two 25-plus point scorers, the Knicks will be the favorite to knock off the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported the following early Sunday morning: "The Knicks, sources say, prefer Baron Davis to Arenas and are trying to convince BD to sign with them in the next 48 hours. But the most interesting scenario I've heard all weekend is the idea that both Davis and Arenas could wind up in New York. One source close to the situation, in fact, says that the two Angelenos have discussed this concept."
The Knicks were as potent as NBA teams come last season, ranking second in the league in scoring offense while averaging an impressive 106.5 points per night.
The addition of Arenas would only add to New York's lethal attack, led by Carmelo Anthony's 26.3 points per game last season after coming over from Denver.
Amar'e Stoudemire averaged a cool 25.3 ppg with the Knicks in his first season, and will now need scoring help from his back court rather than his fellow bigs if New York is to challenge the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat in 2011-12.
Knicks' head coach Mike D'Antoni certainly wouldn't mind adding another capable scorer to his bench, especially a guy like Arenas, who has proven he has big-game potential.
But does it matter which Gilbert Arenas signs, good or bad?
The answer is simply, no.
Sure, the Knicks would be better off with 2004-07 Washington Wizards Agent Zero, the baller that could match Kobe point for point, basket for basket in any given regular season game.
But Arenas hasn't been the same cold-blooded shot-maker and shot-taker since the infamous gun incident in DC.
Arenas was suspended in early 2010 for the rest of the 2009-10 season and never truly recovered his game.
Arenas averaged 17.3 ppg in 34.6 minutes per game in 21 games with the Wizards last season, and then saw his point production drop to just 8.0 ppg in 21.8 mpg in 49 games with the Orlando Magic following a mid-season trade.
If the Knicks can get production somewhere in between eight and 17 points per game while playing Arenas for somewhere in the ballpark of 25 minutes per night, then they will have made the most underrated signing of the shortened offseason.
Everyone knows where the Miami Heat's scoring will come from, the Big Three, and if New York can land Arenas they will be the only team in the league with enough firepower to down the Heat in a seven-game series.
Assuming Melo and Stoudemire provide 50 points per game between them both, and Tyson Chandler is protecting the rim, Arenas would be the wild card. The superstar with gas in the tank, capable of starting the Knicks up.
At the very least, New York would be on the same cloud as Miami.
Arenas would serve a Jamal Crawford-like role for D'Antoni and the Knicks, but even better, as a 21.2 ppg career average scorer.
He'll turn 30 in January, and the Knicks will be spared a massive contract as well as his maximum desired deal because they can offer him an immediate shot at a title, as only few teams in today's league can.
