The New York Knicks have seen cheap investments pay big dividends in the past couple of seasons. As Alan Hahn of MSG Network reports, the Knicks are still actively shopping for help out of their bench and Mo Williams should be the guy they heavily pursue. Could he possibly become a Jeremy Lin-like pickup for the Knicks?
Williams is 30 years old and can provide offense for the Knicks off the bench, which was much needed late in the playoffs. He averaged 12.9 points and 6.2 per game with the Utah Jazz in 2013. Those numbers look fairly similar to a player the Knicks once had, Lin. Over in Houston, Lin averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists in his first full season in the NBA. They are both agile guys who can drive to the hoop, but ultimately, Williams could fit the Knicks offensive mold.
Williams hit 38 percent of his three pointers last year, which differentiates him from Lin, who only knocked down 34 percent of his threes in 2013. Williams would allow the Knicks to space the floor. When controlling the ball, he could break down defenses by either taking the shot or making the pass to an open player. Williams also has playoff experience and the Knicks have been contending for the past three years, which should motivate the 10-year veteran.
Hahn breaks out a list of potential players rumored to have caught the Knicks' interest. The list includes Williams, Bobby Brown, Sebastian Telfair, Delonte West and Jannero Pargo. The Knicks may include inviting a couple of these guys as non-guaranteed signings, making the battle it out for the final spot. If stats prove true, inviting Williams might beat out the rest of these guys as he's the most productive option on the list.
Here are the 2013 averages for the other players on the Knicks' radar:
Telfair: 52 G, 5.6 Pts, 4.6 Asts
West: 44 G, 9.6 Pts, 3.2 Asts, 1.2 Stls
Brown: DNP in 2013
Pargo: 32 G, 6.5 Pts, 2.1 Asts
Clearly, Williams is the best option from this list of veterans. Who would you prefer to see in a Knicks' jersey in 2013-2014?
