New York Knicks - Analysing the off-season thus far

Signing Beno Udrih: The departure of Jason Kidd meant that the Knicks needed a point guard with sizeable experience at the highest level to fill the shoes of Kidd, 2nd on the all-time assists list.

The Knicks’ front office believes that Beno Udrih can reprise the role of Kidd to a T. The Slovenian, who averages 9.2 points and 3.6 assists over his career in only 23.5 minutes per night, will definitely help the Knicks with his high basketball IQ.

Having played on the championship winning 2005 San Antonio Spurs team, Udrih knows what it takes to win a championship. The prospect of adding a second ring to his tally drove him to join the Knicks, albeit for a lesser salary, after having played for teams like Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic.

The 9-year veteran is known for his prowess to run the pick-and-roll (a staple of Mike Woodson’s offence) and his ability to read the opposing team’s defence. His pass-first mentality will definitely benefit the Knicks who have a plethora of jump shooters in Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Andrea Bargnani.

Having another experienced point guard on the roster would help the Knicks’ offence which tended to stagnate, especially during the playoffs when there was too much of isolation with Melo and J.R.

Trading for Andrea Bargnani: This move proved to be quite unpopular with the Knicks fans and most members of the basketball fraternity. Andrea Bargnani arrived to the Big Apple on a trade with the Toronto Raptors that sent Marcus Camby, Steve Novak and Quentin Richardson, as well as a first-round pick in 2016, a second-round pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2017.

Andrea Bargnani

Many felt this was the latest gaffe of the Knicks in their history of over-paying players who subsequently failed to live up to the billing, considering the fact that Bargnani is due to make $23 million over the next two years.

But Bargnani is a unique player. Standing at seven feet tall, he is known for his range and his scoring abilities, averaging 15.7 points for his career. He can regularly knock down the 3-point shot, with many likening him to be the “poor man’s” Dirk Nowitzki.

Despite adding a new dimension to the Knicks’ offence, Bargnani, being a one-dimensional player, only worsens the Knicks’ problems on defence. Envisioning him and Anthony on the floor together would put a smile on the faces of many Eastern Conference rivals, because both players (add Amar’e Stoudemire to this list) tend to slack when it comes to defensive responsibilities.

Bargnani, the first overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, succumbed to the pressure of being a franchise centerpiece for the Raptors, guiding them to the playoffs only twice in his seven years in Canada.

But with him no longer having to reprise that role with New York, the Knicks believe that he can be an offensive threat, creating matchup problems for opposing defences with his size and range.

Re-signing Kenyon Martin: Glen Grunwald made another smart move by re-signing Kenyon Martin, who had played a pivotal role during the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak last season.

The presence of Martin, a 13-year NBA veteran, helps the Knicks’ defence in the paint, with Martin known for his toughness and inside presence. His chemistry with Carmelo dates back to their days in Denver, where they spent seven seasons together.

Despite being undersized for a power forward/centre, it was the 6’9” Martin’s commitment and effort on defence that prompted the Knicks to resign him. He is also a solid rebounder, known for his ability to clean the class and soar high for putback dunks.

The only concern for the Knicks is whether the 35-year-old Martin, having been in the league for 13 years, can withstand the rigours of an 82-game season.