Grading the New York Knicks offseason moves so far

3 of 6

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 02: Taj Gibson #67 of the New York Knicks and John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks battle for a loose ball in the third quarter during Game Five of the Eastern Conference first round series at Madison Square Garden on June 02, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Wendell Cruz-Pool/Getty Images) /

Grading the New York Knicks offseason moves so far: Taj Gibson: B

Taj Gibson helped solidify the Knicks frontcourt defense in Mitchell Robinson’s absence last year, and the Knicks rewarded him by re-signing him to a two-year deal worth $10 million.

Gibson is a savvy veteran that brings that blue-collar Brooklyn toughness and work ethic to the team. He’s not the most talented player, but he’s a tough defender and rebounder, and he will never let anyone on the court outwork him.

His work on the boards and the defensive end are is his bread and butter. He communicates and makes sure his teammates are in the right spots. He’s solid in the pick and roll and crashes the boards like a madman. According to Synergy Sports, he ranks in the 85th percentile defending pick and roll situations and 92nd percentile in overall defense.

When Gibson is the closest defender, opponents are shooting just 28.9 percent on 83 field goal attempts. When he’s in the game, the Knicks hold opponents to a 98.7 offensive rating but that number balloons to 111.8 when he’s on the sidelines.

With the oft-injured Robinson constantly in-and-out of the lineup the last couple of seasons, having frontcourt depth, specifically a player of Gibson’s skillset, is pertinent for a team that emphasizes defense.

Gibson is only making five million this year, and although he’s missed some time dealing with a groin injury, he’s vastly outplaying his contract to start the season.

Home/New York Knicks