Star power is necessary for any team to succeed in the NBA, but sometimes the mesh of different styles of play can cause too much adhesion. For the New York Knicks, Zion Williamson seems to be the obvious selection if they manage to land the 1st overall pick in the draft.
However, if the Knicks can lure Kevin Durant to the Big Apple, grabbing Ja Morant isn’t a bad consolation given they don’t land the top pick. Pairing the decisive point guard with the perennial All-Star would create an exciting tandem, especially with young building blocks like Mitchel Robinson and Kevin Knox impacting the game.
What would Ja Morant bring to the New York Knicks?
In 2018, Morant averaged 10 assists per game. To put that into perspective, Emmanuel Mudiay averaged 3.9 per game and Dennis Smith Jr. 5.4. There’s no question Morant would immediately be the team’s starting point man, and he would bring versatility and a swagger to New York that hasn’t been seen in quite some time – maybe J.R. Smith’s 6th man of the year campaign flashes what success looks like in the Empire State.
Now, it’s nice to think that Morant would be a premium talent when it comes to distributing the ball and driving to the hoop, but the fact of the matter is, Williamson is simply more powerful and effective.
Zion’s massive frame and shooting ability will draw multiple defenders, opening up opportunities for players like Durant. Keeping the opposing defense honest and playing smash-mouth ball down low in the paint creates shooting chances from behind the arch.
Having athletic youth players like Knox, Robinson, and Dennis Smith Jr. only help form that dream scenario with Williamson and Durant. Durant’s experience and leadership is exactly what’s needed to take the Knicks to the next level, but even if they miss out on Zion in the draft, there’s plenty of talent to choose from that will influence the change in culture for the Knicks.