The New York Knicks made another move on Saturday afternoon, signing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a one-year contract, per Bobby Marks. The former Charlotte Hornets has fallen from grace over the past few seasons but is still a primary defender who can match up against many different players in the NBA.
The New York Knicks are signing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a one-year contract, a source tells ESPN.
Kidd-Gilchrist gives New York someone who can guard multiple positions. He was one of the better defensive players that was still on the free agent board.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 28, 2020
What are the New York Knicks getting in the defender:
After playing eight years in Charlotte, he made his way to the Dallas Mavericks for half of the 2019–20 season. Kidd-Gilchrist played in just 13 games for Dallas, averaging 9.3 minutes, 0.9 points, and 2.5 total rebounds. He was essentially a non-factor, and after hitting free agency, the Knicks had him on their radar for quite some time.
His stock was extremely low after his spell with Dallas, and the former number two overall pick in 2012 will be headed to New York, reuniting with former coach Kenny Payne. As a Kentucky product, he has familiarity with Payne, and they expect him to be a solid locker room guy and defensive-forward player for them.
Kidd-Gilchrest is also repped by CAA, Leon Rose’s former employer. So the familiarity with him is apparent across the board for the Knicks, hoping they can rejuvenate his play from years past. At 27 years old, he’s still young enough to be effective for the Knicks, and even legendary Michael Jordan was enamored by his two-way ability. His game simply never grew enough for him to become a star in the NBA, but going back to his roots could do the trick.
While I wouldn’t anticipate him becoming a dominant scorer, averaging a high of 12.7 during the 2015-16 season, with a sample size of just seven games, he can be a dominant defender and situational player. He hasn’t averaged double-digit points with a minimum of 20 games since 2014. The Knicks know what they have in Kidd-Gilchrest, and it is a player with more potential but proven defensive prowess.