When the lights were brightest, the New York Knicks simply ran out of steam — not because of star power, but support.
They had the top-tier talent in Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges. What they didn’t have was enough help.
Why the Knicks can justify running it back
Despite the playoff heartbreak, the Knicks built a legitimate championship-caliber roster that just came up short.
They ran into a mix of coaching missteps and a lack of reliable scoring off the bench when it mattered most.
Still, the core produced enough to warrant another run — especially with the right tweaks and a fresh voice leading them.
One under-the-radar move that could add real value
That brings us to Luke Kennard — a veteran shooter who might be exactly what the Knicks’ bench has been missing.
Kennard isn’t flashy, but he brings one elite skill to the table: three-point shooting at a high volume and efficiency.
In 65 games this past season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Kennard shot 43.3% from deep on four attempts per night.
A proven shooter with playoff experience
Go back to 2023–24 and the numbers are even more impressive — 45% from downtown on 6.1 threes per game.
He also chipped in 11 points per contest in that stretch, operating as a reliable floor spacer and rhythm shooter.
At 6-foot-5 and 206 pounds, Kennard offers enough size to defend guards and provide a consistent scoring threat off screens.
How he fits into the Knicks’ second unit
New York had hoped Miles McBride would evolve into a two-way bench weapon with occasional scoring bursts this past season.
While McBride had his moments, an injury slowed him down and he struggled to leave a consistent playoff impact.
Kennard would offer a different flavor — a pure shooter who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to thrive.
With the Knicks’ core commanding defensive attention, Kennard could feast on clean looks from the perimeter nightly.
The price point might be right
Kennard is coming off a $9.25 million deal, and the market likely won’t require a major overpay to secure his services.
If New York can land him at a similar price, it would be a smart value play for a team eyeing a title push.
Depth wins in the postseason, and finding an efficient scorer like Kennard could help avoid the offensive droughts that doomed them.
Adding him would be like plugging a leaky pipe — it won’t make headlines, but it could stop the ship from sinking.
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