New York Knicks Midseason Grades By Position: Shooting Guard

Sasha Vujacic is deep down the Knicks current depth chart. The veteran guard is a favorite of Phil Jackson, but he does not get many minutes from Jeff Hornacek. He has not played in nine of the last 11 games, and it is fair to raise the question as to why he is still on the roster.

Losing Chasson Randle was something that disappointed many Knicks fans, and Vujacic is someone people pointed out as a player that could have been sent packing to keep Randle around. But, Vujacic has had some decent numbers in advanced statistics.

He is actually the best defender the Knicks have based on Defensive RPM from ESPN, something that is tough to believe whenever watching him on the court. But, the Knicks defensive rating on NBA.com is also strong with him on the court at 95.5; their offense has a rating of 98.2 with Vujacic on the court.

Those are in small sample sizes, as Vujacic has played only 196 minutes in 23 games. Vujacic is known for his offense and ability to shoot the ball, but he has not done that this season. He has scored only 50 points, shooting 34 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep.

Next: New York Knicks Midseason Grades: Point Guards

Maybe Hornacek will see if his defensive performance is a fluke and give him some minutes to see if it helps the team. But unless there are injuries, it is tough to imagine Vujacic cracking the rotation with his struggles offensively.