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New York Knicks News: Robin Lopez Agrees To Contract

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Knicks News: The Knicks have landed their second free agent, filling a huge hole in the middle by signing former Portland Trail Blazers’ center Robin Lopez to a contract.

The New York Knicks have made dipped into the free agent market for the second time this summer, as they signed Robin Lopez Friday afternoon. Lopez’s signing with the Knicks was contingent on DeAndre Jordan going elsewhere, so you can officially say he will not be coming to the Big Apple. Lopez will sign a four-year, $54 million deal and will be the second Portland Trail Blazer that the Knicks signed with offseason, as Arron Afflalo was signed earlier in the week.

With the Knicks missing out on LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and Jordan, they quickly turned their attention to the seven-year veteran Lopez, and twin brother to Brooklyn Nets’ center Brook Lopez. That will make for a little extra to what has been an underwhelming and disappointing rivalry between the Knicks and Nets that have been more media driven than anything.

The Knicks will be the fourth team Lopez plays for in his career, as he started it with the Phoenix Suns before moving onto the New Orleans Pelicans and Trail Blazers. For his career, he averages a modest 8.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. But, the last three seasons he has been very productive as he has become a full-time starter, averaging 10.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

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While those stats won’t jump off the board at you, they could all increase with the Knicks. At all of the previous stops in his career, Lopez wasn’t a part of the offensive scheme at all, but with the Triangle Offense he should become more involved. He does not have the offensive game of his brother, but he will not hurt the Knicks on that end of the court. He won’t be a focal point, but he is capable of knocking down a jump shot if needed, and is very efficient when he does shoot, making at least 53.4 percent of his shots in each of the last three seasons.

Where he will really make an impact though is on the defensive end, where the Knicks struggled mightily. Looking at his block totals, you can see that he is a solid rim protector. Those career numbers come in only 21.2 minutes per game, so with more minutes expected as the starting center for the Knicks they should rise also. Last season, Lopez saved 1.12 points per game and 1.45 points per 36 minutes at the rim, allowing 48 percent at the rim. He was a willing rim protector as well, contesting on 50.3 percent of the time. He also has a strong 3.7 block percentage.

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Those numbers are actually stronger than supposed top free agent and defensive center in Jordan, who finished with 0.17 and 0.18 on 48.5 percent shooting at the rim. Those numbers come in at a 44.6 percent contesting rate. The 0.17 points saved per game is 37th in the NBA, behind such defensive stalwarts such as Justin Hamilton, Marreese Speights and Kyle O’Quinn. (That defensive stalwart comment was sarcasm in case anyone missed it)

Lopez will also help the Knicks a ton on the glass, which is where he will make his bread and butter. He did not qualify because of games missed last season, but if he had, he would have finished 8th in the NBA in offensive rebounding at 3.2 per game. That is important because with the amount of shots Carmelo Anthony takes, and the attention defenses give him, it is imperative the Knicks have players that can get second opportunities when the defense may not be in position to rebound the ball to end the possession.

While people will see the contract length and size and immediately write this off as a poor signing, Lopez is a player that will fit very well into the Knicks scheme on both ends of the court. His rebounding prowess and defensive ability will be welcomed with opened arms, as he is the exact type of rim protector the Knicks needed.

Next: Grading The New York Knicks Draft

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