Knicks Rumors: Trade Interest In Sacramento Kings’ Darren Collison
Recent New York Knicks rumors have them taking a different approach to upgrading the point guard spot, with Darren Collison potentially being a trade target.
New York Knicks rumors will continue to pop up despite the team not being in the postseason. With a head coaching spot up for grabs, and a roster in need of upgrading, we will hear a number of different stories on both fronts. The most recent one focuses on the player upgrading department, as the Knicks may be interested in taking the trade route to improve their point guard position.
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According to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley, the Knicks are interested in trading for Sacramento Kings’ backup point guard Darren Collison. Despite there being a number of big-named point guards available as a free agent, such as Collison’s teammate Rajon Rondo and Memphis Grizzlies’ Mike Conley, Collison would be a solid addition for the Knicks.
For starters, his salary would be much easier to stomach. Owed a fair $5.2 million for the 2016-17 season, Collison would not break the Knicks’ bank for the upcoming season. Given the increase in contracts we are seeing because of the cap rising, Collison would represent a steal of sorts for the Knicks. He would also allow them to be players in the free agent market still, as they would retain a majority of the cap space that they have even if they take him on.
Collison is also someone the Knicks have targeted in the past. In 2014 when also looking to upgrade the point guard spot, the Knicks were in talks to acquire Collison in a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers that involved shooting guard Iman Shumpert. That trade never came to fruition, as Shumpert was traded the next season to the Cleveland Cavalies along with J.R. Smith.
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While the contract situation is nice, the production on the court is what people really like. Collison finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year award voting this season, averaging 14 points on 48.3 percent shooting, 4.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and one 1.0 steals in 30.0 minutes per game.
Collison would be an excellent fit for the Knicks at point guard, as he is efficient offensively and can knock down perimeter jump shots. With the Kings this past season he nailed 40.1 percent of his three-point attempts, and is a career 37.4 percent shooter from deep. The Knicks struggled spacing the floor at times this season, so Collison could help in that department.
Collison also attacks the rim, something the Knicks lacked this season. Without someone that could penetrate and break down the defense, the Knicks offense was stagnant too often, just standing around with no real motion. Collison could put some pressure on opponents with his quickness and ability to get to the rim and finish. Despite being listed at only 6-feet tall, Collison shot 64.5 percent at the rim.
To put into perspective how impressive that is, take a look at arguably the two most athletic point guards in the NBA, Russell Westbrook and John Wall. Westbrook made 59.5 percent of his shots at the rim, while Wall made 59.8 percent of his shots at rim. Both possessing superior athleticism and size to Collison, it is surprising to see how well he finishes near the rim.
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Collison would represent a big upgrade at the point guard spot for the Knicks, and he has experience starting games as well. If they are able to acquire him with some combination of Jose Calderon and one of their excess bigs, possibly Kyle O’Quinn,which they were shopping at the NBA Trade Deadline, it is a move the Knicks have to make. It would not only upgrade the point guard spot, but will leave them with enough money to continue adding talent at other positions on the court.