New York Knicks Encouraged to Sign Former All-Star
The New York Knicks have built one of the NBA’s deepest rosters, but with a few spots still open, they have the potential to get even deeper.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report suggests the idea of signing former All-Star forward Gordon Hayward.
“Jalen Brunson is a certified star, and Julius Randle has produced at All-Star levels, but New York’s support players don’t have a ton of go-get-us-a-bucket in their game,” Buckley writes. While Hayward, now 34 and having not played more than 52 games in any of the past five seasons, might not change that, a minimum deal could be a low-risk option. Despite his All-Star days being behind him, he remains a relatively reliable source of secondary scoring and playmaking.”
Last season, Hayward averaged 9.8 points and 3.1 assists per game in 51 appearances with the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder. While he was initially seen as a veteran asset for a contender when he moved from the Hornets to the Thunder, his role in Oklahoma City wasn’t a good fit.
However, Hayward might be a better fit on a different contender. In New York, he would join a veteran roster more suited to his style. He wouldn’t need to act as a mentor but rather as a confidant and backup option in case of injuries to starters.
Hayward would essentially replace his former teammate Alec Burks on the wing. Burks was seldom used in the regular season after being traded to the Detroit Pistons, but he stepped up in the playoffs and secured a new contract with the Miami Heat afterward.
While Hayward may not be the player he once was, the role he can play now might be the missing piece in the Knicks’ complex roster puzzle.
