Knicks fans have been begging for some much-needed wing depth. With Josh Hart re-inserted into the starting lineup, the Knicks are playing their only true wings at the same time. And while it’s led to some amazing results while they’re on the court, New York now has little to no depth on the wings.
Prior to Landry Shamet’s unfortunate shoulder injury, they at least had some depth there. But even then, Shamet, despite being a revelation for the Knicks, isn’t big. He tries incredibly hard, but he’s just 6’5”, and 190 lbs. Getting a wing defender with some size would benefit the Knicks greatly, allowing them to rest OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart a bit more without sacrificing size and defense.
That being said, the Knicks’ front office seems to be interested in upgrading elsewhere for now. While rumors have been swirling about the Knicks maybe being interested in a guy like Nnaji Marshall, the latest reports have the Knicks linked to Brooklyn native and New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado.
While adding another point guard may not be the biggest need for the Knicks, it is still a weakness that they can benefit from addressing. And the latest injuries to Deuce McBride and Shamet may have pushed Alvarado higher up in the front office’s target priorities.
The 27-year-old point guard is just 6-foot-0, and adding someone of his stature to a backcourt that is already crowded with undersized players may not be the most exciting news to fans. His point-of-attack defense is better than Tyler Kolek, or Jordan Clarkson’s, and while he isn’t the most prolific playmaker, he does average 5.6 assists per 36 minutes for his career and is a solid enough ballhandler.
As you can see, in a vacuum, adding Alvarado, his shooting, secondary playmaking, and point-of-attack defense would be an immediate upgrade to the backup point guard position. But for a Knicks team that has championship aspirations, the question is, and will continue to be, “will it make a difference against the best teams?” and more specifically, “will it make a difference against the Thunder?”
That is a question that I truly don’t have the answers to. Size continues to be a concern for this team, and while it hasn’t really held them back so far this year, they also still haven’t played against a team like the Thunder. Jalen Brunson and McBride can not only coexist but thrive. But can Alvarado do the same with Brunson, and or McBride? Against most teams, I’d wager the answer is yes. But I’d also still argue that the main priority should be to acquire some kind of wing depth.
If trading for the Pelicans point guard is the biggest, or the only move the Knicks make this season, then I’m just not sure if it moves the needle enough. But don’t get me wrong, I like Alvarado, his skillset, and everything he brings. And I would love to see him play in front of his hometown crowd.
