NBA Executives Explains Why Raptors’ Fred VanVleet is Not a Right Fit for the Knicks

In the 2020 offseason, the New York Knicks will be prepared to go all-in, with hopes to sign an All-Star caliber player. Over the last few seasons, they have failed to accomplish anything substantial in the league.

Speaking of signing a talented player, the New York Post’s Marc Berman revealed the Knicks have Raptors’ guard Fred VanVleet on their radar.

“The Knicks could have room to sign a max player and then field a room exception worth $5 million. They still want to address their point-guard issues in free agency, with the Raptors’ Fred VanVleet by far the best one to hit the market.

“The Knicks like VanVleet a lot, but there’s an argument against offering him a max deal. Some league sources believe VanVleet is more prone to shine on an established team than being the lone star — as he would be on the Knicks.”

VanVleet averaged 17.6 points on 41.3 percentage from the field. He is a great player, no doubt about that, but he is more of a system player. For the Knicks, pairing him up with another star could be the best option.

Moreover, he has already found a home with the Raptors. Leaving them would take a fairly good convincing from New York.

Will Fred VanVleet be a good option for the New York Knicks?

VanVleet will enter the 2020 Free Agency as a respected free agent. During the 2019 championship run, Fred played a phenomenal role as a supporting cast member. But without a superstar leading from the front, VanVleet’s impact has been reduced.

Regardless of that, the Knicks are in a dire need of a point guard. The current players on their team have not lived up to the expectations set by the franchise. In the 2019-20 season, they finished with a 21-45 record, which added another year to their playoff drought.

Apart from the absence of a star player, the franchise has built a reputation as a poor player development destination. This is a primary reason that the superstars have been avoiding to sign with the team.

Is Fred VanVleet the answer to Knicks’ lingering point guard issues?