Knicks and Kyle O'Quinn Agree to 4-Year $16 Million Contract

According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, the New York Knicks have acquired Kyle O'Quinn in a sign-and-trade with the Orlando Magic.

ESPN.com's Ian Begley reports O'Quinn will receive a $16 million salary over the next four seasons. Additionally, O'Quinn will have a player option for the fourth year of his contract and could become a free agent in the 2017-18 offseason if he decides to opt out.

The Knicks will not give up much in the sign-and-trade and will only have to send the Magic cash considerations and the right to swap their 2019 second round draft pick according to Adrian Woknarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Kyle O'Quinn was originally drafted out of Norfolk State University in the 2nd round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. O'Quinn played center in his first two seasons in the league but played a majority of his minutes at power forward last year. O'Quinn projects to be the Knicks' starting power forward on opening night.

O'Quinn has only averaged 15 minutes per game during his career and primarily served as the back up to Nikola Vucevic. He was very efficient in his role and averaged 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per 36 minutes. These are very good numbers and O'Quinn will be a bargain if he can replicate those numbers as a starter. This was a low-risk high-reward signing by the Knicks front office. In the worst scenario, O'Quinn would become a hustle player and tenacious rebounder that would come off the bench. In the best scenario, O'Quinn could become an all-star and an integral part of the Knicks' front-court.

Despite performing very well in limited minutes, former Magic coach Jacque Vaughn consistently benched O'Quinn for the entity of most games. O'Quinn was barely given an opportunity to stay in the rotation, let alone become a starter like he deserves. Due to his reduced role in the Magic's rotation, the Knicks were able to cheaply acquire him this offseason. With the Knicks, O'Quinn finally has the opportunity to become a starter in the NBA and could get double-doubles on a nightly basis if he is given an appropriate amount of minutes and lives up to his potential.

By Max DeMarco

Source: Jacob Eisenberg, Sheridan Sports

All stats are via Basketball-Reference.com

Arron Afflalo and Knicks Agree to 2-Year $12 Million Contract.

According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Arron Afflalo and the Knicks have agreed to a two year $12 million contract. Afflalo has a player option for the 2nd year of his contract.

Even though the Knicks missed out on other big SG/SF free agents like Jimmy Butler, Danny Green, and DeMarre Carroll, they were still able to get an upgrade one of their weakest positions. Like Green, Afflalo is a "3-and-D" player. Afflalo is able to shoot the three-ball very efficiently (he is a career 38.5% shooter from behind the arc) and is also able to play strong perimeter defense. This should greatly help a Knicks team that had the third worst defensive rating in the NBA and allowed opponents to make a league high 38% of their 3-pointers.

The Afflalo signing could be a bargain for the Knicks. Afflalo is coming off a down year on offense and only averaged 13.3 points and 1.7 assists per-game. He hasn't averaged this few points per-game  since the 2010-11 season and he hasn't had this few assists per-game since the 2009-10 season. Last year's stats don't accurately represent Afflalo's skill. It is important to take notice of Afflalo's usage percentage last season. It was much lower than normal. Afflalo's usage percentage with the Denver Nuggets last season was 19.9% and it dropped to 16.7% after he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers at the NBA trade deadline. Afflalo's usage percentage last season was significantly lower than when he played for the Orlando Magic during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. His usage percentage was 22.5% during the 2012-13 season and 23.3% during the 2013-14 season. Due to the lack of playmakers and efficient shooters on the Knicks, Afflalo's usage percentage should be closer to the 23.3% he had during his last season with the Orlando Magic than the 16.7% he had with the Portland Trail Blazers last season. Signing Arron Afflalo at an affordable contract was a very good move by the Knicks' front office and he should be a useful asset on both sides of the court.

By Max DeMarco

Afflalo will be reunited with former teammate Carmelo Anthony this season. Afflalo and Anthony were teammates on the Denver Nuggets from 2009-2011

Photo: AP

All statistics are via Basketball-Reference.com

Players the Knicks Should Target in Free Agency

During the midst of a disappointing 2013-14 season, the Knicks decided to hire Phil Jackson as their new president of basketball operations. Coming off of a disappointing 37-45 record that left the team a game behind the Atlanta Hawks for final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Jackson hired rookie coach Derek Fisher, believing that he could make the Knicks competitive in the following season.


The Knicks failed to become competitive this season. The Knicks finished with a pitiful 17-65 record, giving them the 2nd worst record in the NBA. After the NBA Draft Lottery, the Knicks received the 4th overall pick in the 2015 Draft. Phil Jackson is now attempting to rebuild his team so he can help lead the Knicks to a championship in the near future.


The Knicks will have to make a big splash in free agency this offseason if they want to become a playoff team in the east. The Knicks are weak at almost every position. Only four players on the Knicks current roster had an above average Player Efficiency Rating (PER) last season: Carmelo Anthony with 21.5, Alexy Shved with 20.5, Cole Aldrich 18.1 and Andrea Bargnani with 16.6. Additionally, the Knicks were 29th of 30 in offensive rating and 28th of 30 in defensive rating. The Knicks need to retool their offense and defense in order to become successful.


Knicks fans fortunately have a reason to be optimistic. The Knicks only have $31.1 million in guaranteed money for the 2015-16 season and have approximately $36 million they can spend on free agents this offseason.


The Knicks projected starting lineup is Jose Calderon at point guard,  Jerian Grant a shooting guard, Carmelo Anthony at small forward, Kristaps Porzinags at power forward, and Quicy Acy at center (assuming he signs a qualified offer). This year's free agent class is loaded with talent and, if the Knicks make enough shrewd signings, they could become a playoff team this upcoming season.


Some unrestricted free agents that could make an impact for the Knicks are Paul Milsap, DeMarre Carroll, Brook Lopez, Tyson Chandler, Greg Monroe, Corey Brewer, David West, DeAndre Jordan,  Marc Gasol, Omer Asik, Tobias Harris, LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, Danny Green, and Louis Williams. The Knicks have many options to chose from this offseason. Milsap, Chandler, Monroe, Jordan, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, Asik, Harris, Gasol, Aldridge, and West are all players that can efficiently score in the post, rebound a high percentage a missed shots, or block and properly defend most NBA big men. Additionally, most of these players could also mentor Kristaps Porzingas into a superstar who can shoot, post-up, rebound, and shot block at an elite level.


DeMarre Carroll, Corey Brewer, Danny Green, Wesley Matthews, and Louis Williams are all players that could fill in a hole the Knicks have at shooting guard. These players are proficient at shooting 3-pointers and perimeter defense. Signing one or two of these players will vastly improve their defense and provide the Knicks with a lockdown defender that they can use to defend their opponents best playmaker.


The Knicks have the opportunity to be very successful this season and they could become a playoff team if they make smart moves during free-agency. Signing an elite power forward and center and solid three-point specialist could go a long way for the Knicks' playoff aspirations.

By Max DeMarco

All stats are via Basketball-Reference.com