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Five players the Knicks should target in free agency

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Is this finally the year that there is a big splash made in New York Knicks free agency? It certainly could be.

The Knicks finished the NBA season 41-31, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference. It was the first time since 2013 that the Knicks made the playoffs.

The big reason was the emergence of Julius Randle. He earned the Most Improved Player Award and rightfully so. The key to their success going forward will be Randle to continue to get better.

New York has a ton of young talent as well to surround Randle, but they need some stars. And that’s where Knicks free agency comes into play.

Knicks free agency rumors 2021

The Knicks have the cap space to make some big moves in free agency and as a result, the Knicks free agency rumors have been flying from star to star. In fact, they have over $50 million in cap space available.

       

Randle provides a solidified forward that can excel on both ends of the court, but the Knicks can upgrade almost every other position.

Here are some of the big names the Knicks should try and bring to New York.

Chris Paul

The Point God could be hitting the market. Chris Paul declined his option with the Phoenix Suns, but there’s a chance he re-signs with the Suns.

If he doesn’t then he would be one of the top free agents available. Paul helped lead Phoenix to the NBA Finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 16.4 points and 8.9 assists in the regular season while posting a career-high 93.4% at the line.

       

The Knicks have the money and it’s high time they cashed in a big name free agent. Paul seems to win everywhere he goes, so what’s not to like about bringing in the veteran point guard.

DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan is a dynamic playmaking and scoring forward. He’s coming off a season in San Antonio where he averaged 21.6 points per game along with 6.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds.

He’s not necessarily a No. 1 guy on offense for a playoff team, but he’s a very good secondary piece. He has stated he wants to go to a contender, so that might rule out the Knicks, but they have the cash that could entice him to sign in the Big Apple instead.

Evan Fournier

A versatile guard/forward, Fournier played for both the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics last season. Between the two, he averaged 17.1 points, 3.4 assists, and shot 46% from the field this past season, shooting 41% from the field. Plus, his performance in the Olympics where he practically single-handedly took down Team USA definitely stood out and got some teams thinking.

He would fill a good role on the Knicks, being able to play a multitude of positions. However, even with the Knicks’ cap space, Fournier asking price might be too high. He’s not a top tier free agent and he can’t be the No. 1 guy the Knicks get this offseason.

Dennis Schroder

Coming off a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dennis Schroder is likely out of L.A. after the acquisition of Russell Westbrook. And going after Chris Paul doesn’t work, Schroder could be the next point guard target for New York.

He averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 assists and shot 43% from the field last year, and also added a meager 33% from beyond the arc. Schroder could be a solid to have as a point guard in their starting lineup and have Immanuel Quickley again come off the bench. However, Schroder is asking for a $100 million contract in free agency. If that’s the case and some other team will bite, the Knicks might be better off looking elsewhere. Still, they should kick the tires on the guard.

Spencer Dinwiddie

An intriguing option. Spencer Dinwiddie is coming off of an ACL injury that shut him down last season. But that might work in the Knicks’ favor.

Dinwiddie will likely cost less than a Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry or Mike Conley, plus he’s younger.

He’s not just a two year fit, he can be a part of the future in New York. In 2019-20, he averaged 20.6 points and 6.8 assists. The potential for a rebound from Dinwiddie is certainly there, as he was improving every year before the knee injury. At the right price, it has the potential to be a low-risk, high-reward signing for a guy who can give you secondary scoring help.

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