The New York Knicks are at a turning point in the season, with the trade deadline just a few weeks away. Tom Thibodeau‘s team has struggled this year for a myriad of reasons, ranging from inconsistencies with Julius Randle to poor defense from the team as a whole. Lately, it’s been the offense that has run out of gas and failed to take them to the next level, ranking 27th in points per game at 104.2.
The Knicks are expected to be active at the deadline this year, having been connected to Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant and Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner. However, another player has entered the fold out of Atlanta, presenting a solid option off the bench.
Via Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks have a level of interest in Hawks forward Cam Reddish:
The Knicks are also among the teams who have had a degree of interest in Cam Reddish, per sources familiar with the Reddish dynamic in Atlanta.
Reddish is an intriguing player, averaging 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and shooting 30% from deep this season, an 11 point increase from his 2020 numbers.
At 22 years old, Reddish is hitting his stride in his third year in the league, having been an intriguing target during the 2019 NBA draft for New York.
Reddish hosts a 13.8 defensive rating, 103.8 offensive rating, and career-high 48.7% effective field goal percentage this season. Atlanta has steadily decreased Reddish’s time on the floor, averaging a low of 23.4 minutes per game over three seasons.
However, a few statistics stand out, suggesting growth as a scorer. 17.2% of his field goals from three-point range have been unassisted this year, an 11% increase from last season. He also hit the 50% mark on unassisted two-point field goals, producing 42.9% of his points from deep shots.
One of the concerns with Reddish is his injury history. Right Achilles soreness held him to just 26 games last season out of 72. Luckily, he’s a bit healthier this season, playing 34 of 39 games, missing four games due to a left wrist sprain and one with a sprained right ankle.
Acquiring Cam wouldn’t be the worst move, considering the Knicks would have one year left on his rookie deal at a cheaper price point. Given his immense uptick in shooting prowess, it is easy to see why the Knicks would be a potential landing spot.
In addition, Reddish would be reuniting with his former teammate at Duke, RJ Barrett. It is possible that RJ could be pushing for him behind the scenes, advocating for his talent and the potential he still holds at the NBA level.