The New York Knicks experienced significant improvements on Saturday that enhanced their offensive capabilities. They bolstered their versatility on both ends of the court and provided coach Tom Thibodeau with another dependable reserve. Furthermore, these developments allowed the front office to potentially make a trade that could have a substantial impact on the team. It’s undeniable that these changes are advantageous, regardless of personal preferences for players like Obi Toppin, who was traded to the Indiana Pacers for two future second-round picks, or concerns about redundancy with Donte DiVincenzo’s signing to a four-year, $50 million contract.
The extent of their enhancement remains to be seen and won’t be fully known until the 2023-2024 season arrives. However, it became evident during their six-game elimination by the Miami Heat that the Knicks needed additional shotmakers and offensive creators. DiVincenzo, who shot 39.7 percent from 3-point range and averaged 3.5 assists for the Golden State Warriors last season, addresses these needs. Despite being one of the best offensive teams in the regular season, ranking third in offensive rating at 117.0, the Knicks struggled to shoot beyond the arc, ranking 19th with a 35.4 percent success rate. In the postseason, they had the lowest 3-point percentage among the 16 teams, shooting only 29.2 percent. The Heat deliberately challenged them to beat them from the perimeter, and apart from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks failed to deliver. However, with DiVincenzo’s career 36.2 percent success rate from beyond the arc and his high volume of 5.3 attempts per game, the Knicks’ 3-point shooting is expected to improve. Additionally, he is known for his high basketball IQ and low turnovers, averaging only 1.4 turnovers throughout his five-year NBA career.
The trade involving Toppin does weaken the Knicks in terms of power forward depth on the second unit unless they make another transaction. They currently don’t have much flexibility due to salary caps and may not be able to acquire another player for that position. In the meantime, RJ Barrett and Josh Hart may be utilized as power forwards, with Hart’s exceptional rebounding skills for his size and Barrett’s ability to attack slower defenders as an undersized four-man. It’s important to note that Toppin only averaged 15.7 minutes in his final year with the Knicks, so his departure doesn’t leave a significant gap in playing time. While fans may feel frustrated with the Toppin trade, considering he was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft who didn’t have many opportunities and was eventually traded for future draft picks, it’s clear that his value was diminishing behind Julius Randle.
One of the main reasons why this was a positive day for the Knicks is the potential opportunities these two moves present. President Leon Rose now has flexibility to make further trades involving players like Immanuel Quickley or Quentin Grimes without worrying about lacking depth in the backcourt. The Knicks have an abundance of guards and small wings, which are attractive assets for other teams. Rose is now in a favorable position to utilize these assets if the right player becomes available. Essentially, they traded Toppin for DiVincenzo, exchanging a disappointing player with limited role prospects for someone who is expected to be a better fit. Both players are relatively the same age, with Toppin being 25 and DiVincenzo 26. Although DiVincenzo may not be categorized as a game-changer, he is a talented player entering his prime who enhances the team’s overall roster.
Overall, the Knicks made a solid move on Saturday, improving their team. If this concludes their offseason activity after their best season in a decade, it should be considered a successful outcome.
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