Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks took many positive steps this offseason, including the trade for Derrick Rose and the signing of Joakim Noah.
The Knicks might not be done, though, especially with a veteran like Caron Butler expressing interest in hopping on board.
According to SNY’s Anthony Donahue, Butler has interest and the two sides seem like a good fit:
Caron Butler would be a solid pickup for The #Knicks. He told me on #33rdAnd7th he loves the moves we made and would be interested.
— Anthony Donahue (@AnthonyMSG) August 18, 2016
Butler, 36, could act as reliable veteran depth for the Knicks at small forward. Behind Carmelo Anthony the Knicks have Lance Thomas, but the 28 year old has yet to average more than 8.2 points per game on a season.
Last year, Butler appeared in 17 games with the Sacramento Kings. A journeyman, he’s played for nine different teams since 2002, his last most important stop coming in 2014 when he played in 78 games with the Detroit Pistons and averaged 5.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
The Knicks wouldn’t ask Butler to do much other than act as a strong locker room presence, much as he did in Sacramento. That isn’t such a bad thing, as the Knicks have had perhaps the most significant turnover of any team in the league this summer. Helping an entirely new unit gain chemistry and camaraderie is well worth what the team would have to pay Butler.
And hey, if he hits a clutch shot or two, bonus points.
Maybe Butler to the Knicks isn’t the most exciting move in the world. When it comes to moves that make sense for the Knicks at this point, though, it about tops the list.
