The New York Knicks need their draft picks to be stars. After a disappointing free agency run, team president Phil Jackson needs success out of his rookies and so far that is exactly what he is getting. Both Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant are impressing quickly in NBA Summer League out in Las Vegas which has the Knicks feeling very confident. However, is that enough to halt any other further roster moves?
Grant came to the Knicks following trades involving the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards that ended up sending Tim Hardaway Jr to the Hawks in exchange for the point guard. Grant comes into the NBA with more experience than most rookies after spending four years with Notre Dame. That experience is showing as Grant is having no issues picking up the offense in the triangle system New York runs.
"We would not have drafted him where we drafted him if we didn't think he could do a lot of the things we like our guards to do,'' Fisher said, via the New York Post. "You have to be able to shoot, handle, make good decisions, defend. It's not just one or the other to play guard in our system. That's what we like about Jerian. We view the way we play as another reason the transition is a little easier. We don't just give a guy the ball and say go do everything. The system facilitates the offense and doesn't put pressure on one guy."
Grant will be competing with Langston Galloway and Jose Calderon to start in 2015. However, could there be another addition sooner rather than later. According to Bleacher Report, the Knicks are a projected landing spot for Ty Lawson in a trade. The Denver Post is reporting the Nuggets could get aggressive in trying to move the point guard as they have Emmanual Mudiay and the newly signed Jameer Nelson. The Nuggets are aiming for a deal and depending on the asking price, the Knicks could capitalize. Calderon is not a long-term option and Galloway might not be either. Getting Lawson on the roster gives the team a player that is capable of being a true star. However, it remains to be seen if he and Carmelo Anthony could really work in tandem. Prior to the NBA Draft, the Knicks were involved in several talks for point guards. If anyone on the roster struggles, they could re-visit those talks.
