The Knicks have finally gotten their coveted veteran point guard.
No, not Kyrie Irving – who reportedly “very badly” wants to be traded to New York.
Ramon Sessions.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
Sessions, Knicks have agreed on a one-year, $2.3M minimum deal, league sources tell The Vertical. https://t.co/8AtGe2Yl6G
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2017
The Hornets declined Sessions’ $6.27 million team option, an obvious choice. He makes more sense at the minimum. New York will pay just $1,471,382 of Sessions’ $2,328,652 salary. The NBA will cover the other $857,270, procedure for veterans on one-year minimum deals.
If healthy, Sessions might be the Knicks’ best point guard – damning with faint praise.
Frank Ntilikina, the No. 8 pick, is still a teenager and early in his developmental track. Ron Baker makes hustle plays, but no matter how much New York pays him, he’s overmatched athletically against even backups. On an unguaranteed contract, Chasson Randle might not stick into the regular season.
Sessions ended last season injured and is now 31. It’s far from guaranteed he remains healthy and effective, though his driving game could fit well in Jeff Hornacek’s offense.
If the Knicks are stuck relying on young point guards who in over their heads, that wouldn’t be the worst thing. Ntilikina and Baker and maybe Randle would get opportunities to learn on the job. And remember, New York has its own first-round pick this year.
