One of the priorities for the New York Knicks this off-season was to add several capable shooters. Bringing in veterans Julius Randle and Marcus Morris will undoubtedly help in that facet, but three-point specialist Wayne Ellington will be a focal point during the 2019-20 season.
Last season, New York was one of the league’s worst three-point shooting teams. On the year, they converted just 34% of their threes which ranked 28th in the NBA.
The ultimate issue for the Knicks was that players with low percentages were heaving up shots at an astronomical rate. For example, Dennis Smith Jr. launched four three-pointers per game in his 21 contests with the Knicks. He converted on just 1.1 of them.
In addition, Frank Nitilikina shot 28.7% from beyond the arc on 2.7 attempts per game. This season, that number should elevate exponentially, why? Because players like Ellington, Morris, and Randle will all have better numbers and be more efficient in that category.
In comparison, Ellington averaged 10.3 points per game while with the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons last season. He hit on 37.1% of his 7 treys per game.
The New York Knicks needed to add a player like Wayne Ellington:
Adding a trusted shooter from beyond the arc will give the Knicks more room on the floor and better scoring production. Lacking good numbers in that category is simply unacceptable for the modern-day NBA, which is heavily reliant on the three-point shot.
The Knicks signed Ellington to a two-year, $16 million contract that could end up being a bargain considering his qualities and skill set. It is unlikely he emerges as a starter on the team, but he can certainly be an influential player down the road. I expect him to be a rotational piece that head coach David Fizdale looks to utilize in specific ways and scenarios.
Consistent minutes seems to be in Ellington’s future, especially if he can maintain his efficiency from three-point land.