No matter how the NBA Draft lottery shakes out on Thursday night, it’s important to remember that a key to a successful Knicks offseason is acquiring a proven winner who can change the culture and drive the franchise forward. Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet ticks all the boxes as a must-sign free agent target.
VanVleet’s influence and production for the defending NBA champions has grown season by season. The 26-year-old has opened the Raptors’ title defense by putting in huge performances in consecutive first-round victories against the Brooklyn Nets.
The 6-foot-1 guard exploded for 30 points and 11 assists in Game 1, and chipped in 24 points and 10 assists in Game 2. His Game 1 stat line of 30 points, 11 assists, and eight three-pointers saw him join Chris Paul, Steph Curry, and Damian Lillard as the only players in NBA history to record 30 or more points, 10 or more assists, and eight or more three-pointers in a playoff game.
VanVleet’s surging start to the playoffs will only increase the number of suitors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. While the Raptors, Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat are the most logical landing spots for the former Wichita State Shocker, there’s always the possibility of a wild-card team clearing cap space to enter the bidding.
The Knicks have the cap space and an obvious need at point guard. VanVleet makes too much sense for the ‘Bockers. He’s a hungry player who went from undrafted to NBA champion. During the 2019 NBA Finals, he pestered and frustrated Curry, and that kind of hounding effort is something that newly-installed head coach/defensive guru Tom Thibodeau will be eager to add to put his stamp on the Knicks.
VanVleet’s accuracy beyond the arc would also provide an important boost for the Knicks. The Knicks ranked 27th overall during the 2019-20 regular season with a 33.7 three-point percentage, while VanVleet is a 39.3 percent career three-point shooter.
As for the draft, the Knicks enter Thursday with the sixth-best odds of landing the first overall pick at nine percent. The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves each possess a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery, while the Atlanta Hawks and Pistons have a 12.5 percent chance and 10.5 percent chance, respectively.
Knicks fans will be hoping for similar luck to the Rangers, who won the 2020 NHL Draft lottery and the right to draft standout left wing Alexis Lafreniere.
Odds are, though, that the Knicks will lose out in the LaMelo Ball sweepstakes, only increasing their need to acquire a game-changing point guard. Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilikina, and Dennis Smith Jr. do not fit that mold.
VanVleet is a tenacious defender, a sharpshooter, a playmaker, and a versatile asset on both ends of the court. He plays well running the point and at two guard, and excels at defending either position. His ability and big-game experience are exactly what the young Knicks are lacking.
Follow WFAN on Social MediaTwitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch