The New York Knicks, apparently, aren’t all that interested in getting younger during free agency.
According to ESPN.com’s Ian Begley, they are trying to find Courtney Lee-like talents, which makes sense, since three-and-D players are all the rage. Said search, however, has led them to lust for P.J. Tucker, the 32-year-old defensive specialist:
The club has preliminary interest in veteran free agent P.J. Tucker, per league sources. Jeff Hornacek coached Tucker in Phoenix and praised him last season as a strong locker-room leader and intense defender. Tucker shot 35.7 percent from beyond the arc last season, including a 40 percent clip after being traded to the Toronto Raptors.
New York has also shown preliminary interest in New Orleans Pelicans forward and free-agent-to-be Dante Cunningham, per sources.
In a vacuum, this makes sense. Tucker is a bulldog on the less glamorous end. He can guard LeBron James better than most and is someone the Knicks can turn to for consistent efforts against the opposition’s best player. Pairing him with Lee might give New York a puncher’s chance at evading defensive disaster
But chasing an aging wing who’s likely going to be looking for one last payday, and his largest contract to date, is a bizarre play. The Knicks are supposed to be rebuilding. That’s the crux of their premise to trade Carmelo Anthony. Shelling out what’ll cost to sign Tucker—who should be in line to receive offers in the neighborhood of $10 million or more per year—would be truly contradictive.
And, thus, so very Knicks.
