New York Knicks: Ranking the newcomers
9. Ignas Brazdeikis
Ignas Brazdeikis was selected with the 47th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, only to be traded immediately to the New York Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Kyle Guy, who was selected just eight spots after Ignas.
It is pretty uncommon for second-round selections to receive playing time right away, though the league has seen quite a few exceptions recently. Mitchell Robinson and Malcolm Brogdon are the names that immediately come to mind when thinking about breakout second-round players.
Brazdeikis put up some great numbers while playing at Michigan in college. His 14.8 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting from behind the arc was one of the reasons behind Michigan’s rise to a No. 2 seed, though they failed to get past the Sweet 16.
8. Taj Gibson
Easily the most experienced player on this Knicks roster, Taj Gibson was brought in to provide the team with some much needed regular season as well as playoff experience.
After 10 seasons and a total of 803 games played in the NBA, Gibson boasts career averages of 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while also being a potent defender and a fierce presence in the paint.
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Almost certain to be used as an energy spark off the bench, Gibson will probably be one of the most active players on the roster. He would be the perfect guy to have on the floor during crunch time, once all the young guys start getting cold feet.
7. Wayne Ellington
During the 2018-19 NBA season, the New York Knicks shot just 34 percent from behind the arc, finishing as the third-worst 3-point shooting team in the league. As a result, desperate times call for desperate measures.
One of the measures that were taken was to sign veteran sharpshooter Wayne Ellington. Ellington is a has shot the 3-ball with remarkable success throughout his 10-year NBA career, shooting over 39 percent in six of those seasons.
Ellington is the clear definition of a 3-and-D type of player, a certain type that last year’s New York Knicks clearly were short of.