Playing Keep or Cut with New York Knicks Free Agents
Justin Holiday is the perfect backup to Courtney Lee. He's the quintessential three-and-D guy who sinks the dagger from long range or comes up with a big steal.
He'll quietly do the yeoman's work of hustle and help defense, and then, when you least expect it, he'll unleash all manner of hidden weapons. He hit the Philadelphia 76ers with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the Knicks' victory Feb. 25, including a double-handed tomahawk fast-break dunk generated by his harassing defense on Jahlil Okafor.
On the season, Holiday is shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from downtown. He's averaging 7.4 points per game and has had four double-digit scoring performances since the All-Star break.
He also averages 0.8 steals per game and has the best defensive rating and net rating of any Knick who has played consistent minutes. The 27-year-old has shown his worth time and again for New York.
Verdict: Keep
Derrick Rose
1 of 4When the Knicks traded for Derrick Rose, New York fans worried he might hobble onto the court with a cane or his knees might vanish in a puff of smoke. Yet Rose's body has thus far held up (32.6 MPG in 56 games).
His 17.9 points points per game, stop-and-go crossovers and brave drives to the hoop show his health and worth to the right team, but are the Knicks the right team?
Much of the year, Rose got stuck hanging around the perimeter instead of driving the lane (either to score or dish). Recently, he has been electric. The difference: a healthy Lance Thomas and a smaller lineup that leaves him more open floor.
With Joakim Noah out for the season and rotating injuries to Willy Hernangomez and Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks ran Carmelo Anthony at power forward, KP or Hernangomez at center, and Thomas at the 3 spot. And Since the All-Star break, Rose has increased to 19.0 points per game on 49.6 percent shooting and 5.8 free-throw attempts. His assist average is the same (4.5).
In March already, Rose has dropped 28 points on the Golden State Warriors; 20 points, five assists and two steals on the Philadelphia 76ers; and 26 points with six assists on the Milwaukee Bucks.
What happens when a healthy Noah returns next season to a roster already heavy with big men? Could head coach Jeff Hornacek find a way to recreate the magic spacing the Thomas-Anthony-Porzingis lineup had? Maybe. Could the Knicks instead stick with that trio, trade Noah and hope Rose will still re-sign after New York moves his longtime teammate? Doubtful, considering that Noah's recent injuries and minimal 2016-17 production lowered his trade stock.
Also, those stellar Rose performances versus the Warriors, Sixers and Bucks all resulted in losses. Even when he's at his best, the Knicks might still not get it done.
Although the Knicks have wanted another scorer and an elite point guard for ages, the better fit for this squad is a less flashy, pass-first leader.
Verdict: Cut
Ron Baker
2 of 4The Knicks might fall so head over heels in love with Chasson Randle that they forget all about their affair with Ron Baker. It would be foolish to let this scrappy young utility guard go to another team.
He's averaged 3.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12.3 minutes per game this season. Those numbers don't leap off the screen, but Baker's performance is measured not by the averages but by the big moments.
It's measured by the way his energy lifts other players up, like in the fourth-quarter comeback Jan. 6 that powered his team to victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The rookie's fierce defense has gotten the Knicks out of a few scrapes in the past. Offensive plays like his full-speed reverse layup in Draymond Green's face on Sunday was exhilarating enough to make commentator Jeff Van Gundy say, "Is it OK if I stand up and cheer for Ron Baker?"
As Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek himself said on Jan. 16, per Newsday's Roger Rubin: "Ron just competes. He’s in the right spots almost all the time. ... If he’s supposed to help on a roller, he does it and hustles back to his man. He’s a very solid player. And you saw he’s not afraid of anything."
Baker's grit, court vision and grace under pressure make him a good fit for any NBA bench...especially the one in Madison Square Garden.
Verdict: Keep
Sasha Vujacic
3 of 4Re-signing Baker makes re-signing Sasha Vujacic mostly unnecessary.
Hornacek has not found much use for Vujacic on the court this season, only sending him into 30 games all season, averaging 7.8 minutes per game overall, and only five minutes total since Feb. 8.
Yet Hornacek might find the 32-year-old vet essential in the locker room. Vujacic has perfected the most essential skill a reserve can have: an unwavering game-time mindset. He is always ready to perform.
Vujacic might not blow onto the court raining threes and dropping dimes, but he's composed, energetic and consistent for someone with such an irregular schedule.
After playing only 22 minutes for the entire month of January, he came out Feb. 1 and played 22 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets, helping New York to a win with 12 points.
The performance earned him accolades from teammate Justin Holiday, who told Kristian Winfield of Posting and Toasting, “Obviously having Sasha come in there, a lot of energy, it helped us a lot.”
Vujacic is also the only Knick with a positive net rating (except Chasson Randle, who doesn't count yet).
A veteran like that is valuable, if only to mentor the less experienced Knicks backups like Randle, Baker, Willy Hernangomez, Marshall Plumlee and Maurice Ndour. He's already been spotted staying late after practice to shoot threes with Kristaps Porzingis and 27-year-old rookie Mindaugas Kuzminskas, per ESPN.com's Ian Begley.
Those values could earn Vujacic a roster spot, but probably not on the Knicks. Even though Vujacic's salary would be small, a team struggling this much to find a winning unit can't afford to waste money on guys who don't play. Hornacek should either give Vujacic minutes or a job as an assistant coach. Otherwise, Sasha-time may be over in New York.
Verdict: Cut
Justin Holiday
4 of 4Justin Holiday is the perfect backup to Courtney Lee. He's the quintessential three-and-D guy who sinks the dagger from long range or comes up with a big steal.
He'll quietly do the yeoman's work of hustle and help defense, and then, when you least expect it, he'll unleash all manner of hidden weapons. He hit the Philadelphia 76ers with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the Knicks' victory Feb. 25, including a double-handed tomahawk fast-break dunk generated by his harassing defense on Jahlil Okafor.
On the season, Holiday is shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from downtown. He's averaging 7.4 points per game and has had four double-digit scoring performances since the All-Star break.
He also averages 0.8 steals per game and has the best defensive rating and net rating of any Knick who has played consistent minutes. The 27-year-old has shown his worth time and again for New York.
Verdict: Keep
