New York Knicks: Mindaugas Kuzminskas will improve for 2017-18 season

The New York Knicks are currently building a roster that is full of diversity, Mindaugas Kuzminskas is one of the most impressive and also seems to fly under the radar while he may be poised to have an explosive second year.

The New York Knicks have been maneuvering well this offseason as far as the eye can see. But even before the most recent draft, the Knicks have been going down a route that is certainly interesting and even more diverse, with names like Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, Mindaugas Kuzminskas and most recently, Frank Ntilikina.

They are betting on finding their best talent across the borders of the United States and into Europe.

This is not unheard of for teams to find potential stars from less popular studs around the globe, but it makes for an interesting way to rebuild. Let’s take a look at Mindaugas Kuzminskas and what kind of dynamic play he brings to the table.

He is a late bloomer at age 27 for the NBA, making his debut during the 2016-17 regular season. Appearing in 221 games over the span of six years in EuroLeague, his play was impressive enough to draw multiple NBA scouts. Although he has posted solid numbers at times, other nights he is also fairly inconsistent.

However, the 2016-17 season was a strange one for the New York Knicks. Everything that could go wrong for the Knicks usually does. From rotation players being banged up, to stars missing half the season or even going MIA, they never caught a break. Practically the entire Knicks’ roster had trouble developing consistency in any area throughout the season.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas averaged 14.9 minutes per game and provided 6.2 points per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field. Admittedly this is far from exceptional. The upside is his per 36 minute stats show how productive he could be if given the opportunity for a bigger role.

Standing out in a roster being rebuilt

Mindaugas Kuzminskas has great athleticism, plays as a solid two-way forward and has a great sense of how to drive to the basket.

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Kuzminskas posted 15.1 points per 36 minutes, though his three-ball needs improving, as he hit just 32.1 percent of his long range attempts. This prohibits him from being among the most versatile rotation players currently on the Knicks’ roster.

He has proven so far that he is most effective shooting beyond the arc when he is set at the corner. This makes up for 22.0 percent of his total 3-point attempts and he makes 40.5 percent of those shots.

Firing from the corner more often is one way for Kuzminskas to improve, but to be a team player, he needs consistency from others in the rotation as well. He has gotten time to work on his game overseas this summer and shows promise for the upcoming season.

Ron Baker making a return makes for an interesting option at shooting guard, while it is yet to be determined who will be starting the majority of the season at the 1-spot. Whether it be the young Frank Ntilikina or proven veteran Ramon Sessions, both are fair options. With the recent addition of Micheal Beasley as well as Kyle O’ Quinn being a key big piece in the rotation, the situation looks positive. The Knicks do have all their positions crossed off their checklist.

This year, the New York Knicks’ arguably improved bench should help them close out games they were previously unable to.

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Mindaugas Kuzminskas seeks to improve on an average rookie season and perhaps drop impressive numbers if he finds more minutes on the court.