As NBA free agency opens, here are three names to keep an eye on for the Knicks:
He was on pace to be a perennial All-Star before he shattered his leg in his Celtics debut in 2017. He’s still a good passer and 3-point shooter and averaged 17 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in 2019-20. The Knicks’ assistant GM, while with the Jazz, drafted him out of Butler. “He’s still multi-skilled player despite the injuries slowing him down some,’’ one scout said.
D.J. Augustin
The Knicks need a starting point guard and the 32-year-old journeyman is more than serviceable on a cheap, one-year, $5 million deal. He’s a career 38 percent 3-point shooter. He’s undersized and bounced around to eight teams, most recently Orlando. Augustin played his best ball under Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau in Chicago in 2013-14.
The ex-Knicks superstar is more a solid role player now and revived his career last season in Portland when he averaged 15 points on 43 percent shooting. Rookie Obi Toppin could learn wonders from Melo, but his former agent, Leon Rose, wants him on discount for the room exception of $5 million. It’s a waste if they land Hayward.
