Jason Smith Ensures Andrea Bargnani Has No Role for New York Knicks

Andrea Bargnani isn't as bad as most New York Knicks fans think. The Italian 7-footer with the pretty jump shot can stretch the floor like few center forwards can, and his 2013-14 stat sheet is solid. Yet Bargnani raised crowds' ire with transgressions stats don't show: inconsistent shooting and inexplicably bone-headed decisions at the very worst moments.

Poor Bargs hasn't yet had a chance to redeem himself this season, sidelined with a hamstring strain since mid-October. In the meantime, another 7-footer with a pretty jump shot has arisen, and he may be just what the Knicks always wanted from Bargnani. 

Jason Smith (7'0", 245 lbs), the center forward New York obtained from the New Orleans Pelicans during the offseason, gives the Knicks better defense and passing than Bargs. Smith also provides greater peace of mind—that cozy "he isn't going to screw everything up for us" feeling.  

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Before we give away Bargnani's job entirely, though, have a look at the numbers. (Since Bargnani averaged 29.9 minutes per game and Smith only 18.6, these stats compare performance per every 36 minutes, not per game.)

Andrea Bargnani vs. Jason Smith, per 36 minutes
	PTS	REB	AST	FG%	3FG%	BLK	TOV	NetDFG%
Bargnani, 2013-14	16.0	6.4	1.3	44.2	27.8	1.5	1.7	+2.5
Smith, 2014-15	15.4	5.2	2.0	49.4	NA	0.3	1.2	-4.8

The one key drawback of playing Smith in lieu of Bargnani is that Smith cannot shoot from beyond the arc. He hasn't attempted a three-pointer since the 2012-13 season and hasn't sunk one since the year before that. Without threes in his arsenal, he cannot stretch the floor quite as well as Bargnani. 

Yet, he doesn't need to. Smith makes up for his ineptitude behind the arc in other ways. For one, Smith is excellent at moving the ball. In particular, Jason has a slick two-man game with J.R. Smith, swapping behind-the-back assists in and out of the paint. Jason sinks 61.9 percent of the shots he's fed by J.R.'s passes.

As for defense, Bargnani decidedly beats Smith on blocks. Smith only swatted away 0.3 to Bargnani's 1.5—though Smith's powerful rejection of the Detroit Pistons' Josh Smith should count double.

Smith, however, wins on defensive field-goal percentage. Smith is holding opponents to, on average, 4.8 points fewer than they usually score. Bargnani allowed them to drop an extra 2.5 on him. 

Another check in the Smith column: He comes at a discount. New York signed Smith for a one-year, $3.3 million contract, while the Knicks still owe Bargnani $11.5 million this season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. 

Bargnani's return to the hardwood is nigh. Head coach Derek Fisher said he might appear as soon as Saturday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. There's no denying that the 3-10 Knickerbockers need help racking up some Ws. Bargnani could be the difference-maker, but if not, Jason Smith is poised to make him irrelevant.

All stats from NBA.com/stats.