Knicks' Early 2024 Free Agent Targets
The New York Knicks' focus for 2024 free agency—whenever they turn their attention toward it—will be on talent retention.
One would assume their willingness to pay a premium to acquire OG Anunoby would signal a willingness to re-sign him whenever he makes the no-brainer call to decline his $19.9 million player option, per Spotrac. New York also figures to have some interest (maybe a lot of it) in re-signing one or both of Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa.
With the Knicks presumably getting close to (or exceeding) the luxury tax once Anunoby is signed, that doesn't leave much money to go shopping for external upgrades. Still, New York will have something to offer, even if it's only a minimum contract and the chance to suit up for a famed franchise that has cemented its place near the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks could have a convincing recruiting pitch for some players, including the following three potential targets.
Nicolas Batum, Philadelphia 76ers (Unrestricted)
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The Knicks have some really good glue guys on the roster, but having too many on-court connectors probably isn't a thing.
So, New York could be one of several contenders with interest in Nicolas Batum as a hardwood adhesive.
He is the kind of jack-of-all-trades that makes the label a compliment, not a criticism. He doesn't need a standout skill when he's average (or above) in so many different areas. He can be a shape-shifting defender, a spot-up shooter, a secondary creator or even a defensive playmaker. When he really has it rolling, he checks all of those boxes and more on the same night.
If he doesn't decide to hang it up, he should have his choice of win-now suitors. The Knicks would be wise to be among them.
Doug McDermott, Indiana Pacers (Unrestricted)
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Despite Donte DiVincenzo doing everything he can to change this take, there still probably isn't enough three-point volume in New York's attack.
The Knicks certainly don't shy away from the three-ball, but there is room to grow from their rankings of 10th in three-point makes and 13th in long-range attempts. Beyond the added mathematical benefit of the long ball, New York could also use the extra spacing to widen attack lanes for Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
That's why the Knicks picked up Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks at the trade deadline. It's why they could also consider giving Doug McDermott a look this summer.
While he's had trouble finding his touch after his own deadline deal (32.1 three-point percentage over 18 outings in Indiana), he's still been one of the league's most reliable shooters of the last decade. Among the 281 players with at least 300 three-pointers since McDermott's rookie year of 2014-15, his 41 percent splash rate ranks 14th-best, per StatHead Basketball.
Dario Šarić, Golden State Warriors (Unrestricted)
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The Knicks might have the NBA's best—certainly the deepest—center rotations. That could change in a hurry this offseason.
Free agency looms as a possible poacher of one or both of Hartenstein and Achiuwa. If New York opts to pay up for both, it might have to consider using Mitchell Robinson as a primary piece in a blockbuster trade.
There could easily be some frontcourt openings, in other words, and Dario Šarić could help fill a spot while adding something different to the position group.
He would up the Knicks' offensive versatility by adding spacing, passing and a bit of ball-handling to the mix. His per-36-minutes averages this season included 16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.4 three-pointers on 37.6 percent shooting, per Basketball-Reference.
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