Since July 1st, the Knicks have gone to work, using almost all possible assets to not only re-sign their own talents, but also lure in veteran role players to surround their stars.
New York is proving they are dedicated to building a winner for the present, shoring up the roster and valuing depth, aiming to follow suit and compete with the Miami Heat. Even with Jason Kidd, Steve Novak, J.R. Smith, and Marcus Camby all ready to don orange and blue next season, the Knicks still have a couple voids to fill.
Over the past two seasons, the team has seen players like Landry Fields, Shawne Williams, Josh Harrellson, and Novak step up in big ways to make unexpected impacts. Though most of the rotation seems set, the Knicks are still looking for a couple diamonds in the rough this time around, too.
With that search comes the official signing of James White. After spending the last three seasons in Italy, the 29 year old White returns to the NBA with ten games experience. White is an athletic swingman whose high-flying dunking ability stands to excite the Garden crowd on a nightly basis, ala Iman Shumpert or Smith.
Though it was quite a while ago, White's most substantial NBA contributions came in 2006-07 when he averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds though six contests with the Spurs.
Given the Knicks' willingness to take chances on young and/or unproven players, White has the chance to find success in New York. How much of an impact he will have remains to be seen, but the opportunity to contribute is there given the team's lack of depth at the two-guard position. Though fans are currently comparing White to Gerald Green, who is coming off a breakout season with the Nets, earlier comparisons via Draft Express listed White's best and worst case scenario as Andre Iguodala and Qyntel Woods.
Also reportedly getting ready to join the team is European guard Pablo Prigioni, who seems to be a favorite of our friend Seth Rosenthal from "Posting & Toasting."
Though Prigoni is already 35 years old, he's apparently still able to push the tempo, prepared to succeed in a run and gun offense. With Jeremy Lin and Kidd likely to man most of the minutes at the point guard position, there will likely be less pressure on Prigoni to succeed. Nevertheless, his skill set makes him look like a worthwhile option to take a risk on as the Knicks look for previously uncovered NBA talents.
With Smith, a crucial piece off the bench last season, currently pencilled in as the team's starting two-guard, the Knicks surely hold hope that both White and Prigioni (perhaps in a smaller lineup) can log solid minutes to help shore up the hole at the position. Either way, depth is key and that's what the team appears dedicated to compiling.
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