MEET NEW KNICKS HOT SHOT
With plenty of options, Knicks need to see which PG rises to top
Another Knicks training camp is set to get underway this week with a familiar refrain among the questions facing the team. What’s the deal at point guard? The top free-agent point guards available this offseason are off the market now — Fred VanVleet stayed with the Raptors and veteran DJ Augustin signed with the Bucks — and though a possible trade for a disgruntled point guard like Russell Westbrook always looms, the Knicks are set to enter camp with quantity at the position while waiting to find out what kind of quality they actually have.
The Knicks re-signed Elfrid Payton, signed Austin Rivers and drafted Immanuel Quickley, who will join Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. While the incumbent Payton figures to be the favorite for the starting job, they will all be vying for it, especially with a new coaching staff and front office in place.
Before training camp tips off, here’s a look at the Knicks’ five options at point guard as they hope the popular football thinking — if you have two quarterbacks, you have none — doesn’t apply:
Frank Ntilikina
For a stretch last season as he played with a newfound confidence, it looked as if the French combo guard was finally making the jump to become the Knicks’ answer at the position. That ended up just being more tantalizing flashes of Ntilikina’s talent rather than a sustained push. He finished the season averaging 6.3 points and three assists per game, including 26 starts. Ntilikina, who had his 2020-2021 option picked up by the Knicks before last season, has always been a stout defender, but has lacked a consistent offensive spark.
Elfrid Payton
The veteran didn’t start the season opener last year for David Fizdale, but eventually took over the job after returning from an injury, starting 36 games while averaging 10 points, 7.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds. The Knicks waived him and then brought him back at a lower price (one-year, $5 million). His shooting is his weak spot, as he shot just 20.3 percent from deep last season, but he plays solid defense and has a fan in GM Scott Perry, who drafted him while with the Magic.
Immanuel Quickley
The combo guard signed his rookie contract on Saturday after the Knicks drafted him with the No. 25 pick. The 6-foot-4 Quickley played two seasons at Kentucky, earning SEC Player of the Year honors last season after averaging 16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 42.8 percent from deep. He should also add a solid defensive presence, but it remains to be seen how quickly he can settle in at the NBA level.
Austin Rivers
The son of Doc Rivers has bounced around with four teams in eight years in the NBA as a combo guard. He had his best season with the Clippers as a starter in 2017-18, but spent last year with the Rockets averaging 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 35.6 percent from 3-point range The Knicks signed him to a three-year, $10 million deal, but the final two years are not guaranteed.
Dennis Smith Jr.
Part of the return for the Kristaps Porzingis trade, Smith is another point guard who has lacked consistency while struggling to play up to his potential. In 34 games last season (he missed time for injuries and the death of his stepmother), he averaged 5.5 points, 2.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds, with his revamped shot not making a difference as he shot 34.1 percent and 29.6 percent from deep. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.