Knicks Rumors: Latest on Lou Williams and Draft-Day Trades
The New York Knicks are always at the epicenter of the NBA universe, and this summer should be no exception.
After floundering to the tune of a franchise-worst 65 losses last season, New York is eyeing an action-packed few weeks full of change that will ideally facilitate gains in the win column.
Reformation can begin with the NBA draft on June 25, when the Knicks are expected to select a budding prospect at No. 4 overall to help grow the team's program well into the future.
New York won't be restricted solely to draft-day dealings, though. According to BasketballInsiders.com, the Knicks have just $32.4 million in guaranteed contracts on the books for next season, with $22.9 million of that total getting paid to Carmelo Anthony.
Possessing bundles of cap space, the Knicks figure to be active in free agency on July 10 as they eye a stronger second season under head coach Derek Fisher.
Knicks Interested in Lou Williams
The Knicks desperately need an infusion of offensive creativity, and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams would seem to fit the bill.
According to RealGM.com's Shams Charania, the Knicks—and a handful of other clubs—have emerged as suitors for the unrestricted free agent this summer.
"Williams is expected to receive strong interest from teams that include the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, providing a clear competition for the Toronto Raptors to retain the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year," Charania wrote.
It's not hard to see why the Knicks would want to make a run at Williams.
The Knicks ranked 29th in offensive efficiency (99.9 points per 100 possessions) during Fisher's inaugural season on the bench, and the team struggled mightily in the jump-shooting department.
Shooting guards, specifically, encountered frustration when attempting to find twine. According to HoopsStats.com, the Knicks' 2-guards shot 40 percent from the field, which ranked 26th overall.
Williams—while not often efficient—could provide the Knicks with a confidence boost. He ranked 10th in points created (478) via pull-up jumpers last season, according to SportVU's player-tracking data, despite shooting 36.2 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from three on those looks.
According to Charania, it's possible Williams will field offers in the range of $9 million annually, which is what the league's 10th-highest paid shooting guard (Lance Stephenson) is set to earn next season, per Spotrac.com.
Beyond the Nets, New York figures to have stiff competition from the Toronto Raptors when it comes to inking the 28-year-old volume scorer.
Just two months ago, Williams told reporters he was keen on re-signing with the Raptors, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg:
While Williams could be using big-market clubs like the Knicks as leverage to try to get Toronto to pony up more money, it's clear the Raptors offer a better chance at postseason contention and prosperity than the other Atlantic Division foes.
New York Looking to Trade Down?
It's always good to keep options open as draft day nears, and the Knicks appear to be doing just that.
According to ESPN.com's Chad Ford, New York could explore a move back in the lottery if the top three picks shake out in expected fashion.
"Sources say the Knicks are entertaining trading down in the draft if [Karl-Anthony] Towns, [Jahlil] Okafor and [D'Angelo] Russell are all taken in the top three picks," Ford wrote. "It sounds as if they remain on the fence about both Emmanuel Mudiay and [Kristaps] Porzingis."
Who the Knicks would target in a descent toward the middle or back of the lottery remains unclear, but Ford cites Murray State's Cameron Payne and Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky as players who could pique the Knicks' interest in such a scenario.
The New York Post's Marc Berman discussed the logistics of a potential trade down, writing: "They have three trade exceptions to use to engineer a trade down to the No. 7-to-14 range and still land a much-coveted big man such as Willie Cauley-Stein or Frank Kaminsky, who will work out for the team Thursday."
Kaminsky, in particular, represents an intriguing target.
While the 2015 Wooden Award winner attempted just 2.6 threes per game during his senior season at Wisconsin, he rattled them home at a 41.6 percent clip. That proof of concept regarding his long-range capabilities could be huge at the next level, namely because clubs covet new-age stretch 4s who can help diversify looks.
Kaminsky may be a tad slow, but he knows how to score the ball in a variety of ways. Whether he's facing up or operating with his back to the basket, the 7'1" floor-spacer could prove to be an offensive catalyst for a team that struggled to create easy points in the triangle throughout last season.
All statistics are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com unless noted otherwise.
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