Recent rumors have emerged that the New York Knicks are interested in signing free agent wingman Lance Stephenson to a one-year deal as the Big Apple squad reportedly wants to add depth to their wing positions.
The Knicks has above average starters that include Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Kristaps Porzingis, and Courtney Lee if all of them will manage to stay healthy for a full season. With such a fragile starting unit, head coach Jeff Hornacek needs to make sure that he has the bench to fill-in for anyone of his starters in case an injury would happen.
At the moment, the only legitimate name in his second unit is point guard Brandon Jennings as the others were just old veterans, inexperienced rookies, and third-tier players.
Chat Sports noted that the 25-year-old Stephenson could be a possible addition to Coach Hornacek's side as he is "still a free agent" late in the summer and that the Knicks have recently "expressed some interest in signing him".
Stephenson played for the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies last season in a tumultuous campaign. He suited up his first 46 games for the Clips while the remaining 26 were played with the Grizzlies after he was traded to Memphis along with a future first-round pick during last February's deadline in exchange for Jeff Green.
He averaged a career-high 14.2 points for the Grizz with 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 26.6 minutes of playing time a night. Still, he was waived this summer and became an unrestricted free agent.
According to Fansided, Stephenson could provide offensive versatility for Coach Hornacek, especially in providing points off the bench as he "could be the ultimate X-Factor for the second unit". He has a limited skill set when it comes to scoring, but in the right environment, he can be a potent scorer.
He could also readily spell four positions (including the power forward spot if Hornacek decides to play small ball) and would be effective in both offense and defense.
If Zen Master Phil Jackson can control Stephenson's mercurial tendencies, then he can really thrive in New York.
The report noted that the Knicks have seen this kind of player before in JR Smith and the team was able to handle it then.
