With Few Options, Sonny Weems Would Be Excellent Fit for Knicks

After a turbulent few weeks for the Knicks, the roster is finally starting to take shape with some strong veteran talent.

But in order to bring in much of their new talent, many of the team's assets and/or exceptions needed to be sacrificed. With a void or two still to fill, and a couple of roster spots open, where do the Knicks go from here?

New York will likely be turning their attention to a few attainable shooting guards, likely the ones willing to sign for the veteran's minimum. According to ESPN New York's Jared Zwerling, the team is considering Sonny Weems, and there seems to be mutual interest.

Zwerling reports that Weems' agent (who also represents Jeremy Lin) feels as though his client would be a good fit for New York.

I couldn't agree more. Considering the limited options the Knicks have at this point, Weems would be a perfect fit because he's exactly the type of player they need. J.R. Smith may be the more prolific scorer, and may even play more minutes than any other incoming shooting guard, but the fact is Smith is stronger coming off the bench because is able to provide his team with a boost.

Weems is a player, who like Landry Fields, can blend much better with the starters. The former Raptors swingman is a good defender who can play well without the ball. Though he isn't the most efficient at helping spread the floor, Weems is a slasher who can score by driving to the basket. After averaging 9.2 points per game for Toronto during the 2010-11 season, he proved he isn't a liability on offense. Weems could certainly hold his own on the Knicks.

Prior to a Knicks-Raptors matchup during the 2010-11 season (Weems spent last season overseas due to the lockout), we here at KnicksJournal.com spoke with Raptors commentator (and father of former Knick Andy Rautins) Leo Rautins. 

At that point in the season, Weems was excelling for the Raptors and even stepping up on the offensive end (ala Ronald "Flip" Murphy for Ray Allen on the Sonics in 203-04), due to some key injuries for his team. Rautins had this to say about the promising guard's potential:

 "I don’t think Sonny is a major scorer, but he’ll get his opportunities. He’s best in transition and looks flashy when he attacks the basket. He falls into the trap of trying to be a jump shooter at times, which he’s not. I think he’s got to be a defensive presence for the Raptors, so he needs to step up in that regard. He’s had some games where he has stepped up and scored but now that teams are focusing in on him, I think he has to realize that it’s the little things that will really make his presence felt."

Rautins talks highly of Weems and actually makes it sound as though the swingman could do a lot of the same things Fields did for the Knicks. With Smith ready to don orange and blue for his first full season, New York doesn't need a whole lot from a second shooting guard. All that's necessary is someone who can balance the starting lineup and play solid defense while Smith is on the bench. 

For the right price, Weems seems more than capable of doing that.