While the New York Knicks had a false sense of hope at one point earlier this season, they are going to miss the playoffs yet again. This Knicks team has some good pieces for the future, but it is clear that they need to reshape their roster if they want to be contenders.
The hope for the Knicks is to make a big splash in free agency, and their pitch will include the potential of their rookie Kristaps Porzingis. New York will likely have its eyes on some of the top free agents like Kevin Durant and Mike Conley, but getting those guys might be unrealistic. The next option would be to look at second tier guys, and they already have their eyes on someone specific, and that is Evan Turner of the Boston Celtics.
Turner is in his second season with the Celtics right now, and he has been having a very good year in the final run of the two-year deal that he signed last summer. With Turner becoming a free agent this year, and likely requiring a big pay increase, it is unlikely that he is back with the Celtics because they have their sights set on much bigger free agents. Because of this, the Knicks are expected to be strong suitors to acquire the 27-year-old.
The rookie is making just $3.5 million this season with the Celtics, but there are some who believe that he can earn up to $15 million per season with this next contract. The reason for the huge increase is because of his play this year and the exponential rise of the salary cap. The reason for the Knicks' rumored interest in Turner is that Phil Jackson is reportedly a huge fan of the way he plays.
Turner is not the type of player that will make Knicks fans go crazy with glee, but his fit does make some sense. One of the issues for the Knicks this season has been point guard play, and although Turner isn't a true point guard, he is someone who can handle the ball. The former Ohio State Buckeye is a combo guard in every sense of the phrase, and although he isn't a good three point shooter, he does a lot of other things well on the floor and is a triple-double threat night-in and night-out.
Turner has only started eight games for the Celtics this season, but he is still averaging 27.6 minutes per game. Turner's durability is a huge plus for him, as he has missed just one game in the last three seasons, and he is also a good defender. Through 72 games this season, the sixth year man is averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. Turner would be a good get for the Knicks in free agency, should they sign him, even if it isn't exactly what the fans want.
