It is no secret that the New York Knicks desperately need a starting point guard to solve a position of weakness. Currently, the team has Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose rotating, and while they could keep Rose as a veteran option for the 2021-22 season, it is best to be thinking long-term at this point in time. It is clear that they need a solution for the future, which is why they were close to acquiring Lonzo Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline before opting to remain with their current team and added draft capital instead.
However, according to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks are planning to pursue Lakers point guard Dennis Schroder. With the team expected to have as much as $70 million to utilize over the summer to acquire a free agent, they have plenty of money to land a player like Schroder who can offer immediate offense of production and solid defense. The 27-year-old is coming off a four-year, $70 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to Oklahoma and then Los Angeles.
Schroder is among the players on New York’s radar as the club looks ahead to free agency, SNY has learned.
Schroder currently counts $16 million against the salary for the Lakers, but it seems as if the two sides are having trouble reaching an agreement on a contract extension, and while things could materialize in the future, it is believed that Schroder will test free agency, which will give the Knicks a fantastic opportunity to land his services.
This season, Schroder is averaging 15.3 points over 31.7 minutes on average, hitting on .432% of his shots from the field and .338 from downtown. He is an adequate shooter with upside, also posting efficient percentages from the free-throw line with a .484 success rate.
His best season to date came in 2018, when he averaged 19.4 points, before seeing an uptick in efficiency from three-point range. I believe he would be a solid add for the Knicks, with his ability to spread the ball around the floor and drive to the rim. His slim frame allows him to work his way against pick and rolls adequately, and with an influx of guards after the drafting of Immanuel Quickley, the Knicks need an established PG to take over for the future.