New York Knicks: Debating the offseason point guard landscape
Fred VanVleet
The most sensible option for New York is making the most of a free agency run at Fred VanVleet, currently with the Toronto Raptors. After playing the third-largest role on a championship team, he’s walking into free agency expecting a large payday.
Even in a year where he missed 16 games VanVleet largely impressed behind averages of 17.6 points and 6.6 assists on 41/39/84 shooting splits. He’s just 25 years old and can command an offense. But some doubt lays behind the lack of talent he’d be presented with in New York.
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Still, VanVleet can pass the ball and knock it down from three. He’d be an ideal partner for RJ Barrett in the backcourt. But how much would he cost? Therein lies the biggest question. In a summer where the cap space may be thinning, VanVleet could headline the market.
New York is one of few teams in position to sign a player to a max contract, therefore holding the advantage and being the clear cut fit in terms of those teams and who needs a point guard.
VanVleet doesn’t match up perfectly with the current age of this Knicks core, but he’d be coming off of his deal right around what is expected to be Mitchell Robinson and Barrett’s prime play. New York could, in theory, then pair the two with the best point guard available and form a Big 3.