Free agent wings Knicks could target this offseason, including Kelly Oubre Jr.

The Knicks could be interested in bringing back Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks

6/28/2021, 7:00 PM
April 25, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) dunks the basketball against Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (25) during the second quarter at Chase Center. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 25, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) dunks the basketball against Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (25) during the second quarter at Chase Center. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks have some decisions to make at the guard/wing position this offseason.

Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks are free agents.

To keep both players, the Knicks will probably have to sign them through at least 2022-23. Is New York willing to use cap space to bring back both players? That’s unknown.

Midway through the regular season, at least one Knicks decision-maker wanted to bring back Burks, Bullock and Nerlens Noel. The thinking at the time: These 2021 free agents helped us exceed expectations, so why not bring them back?

That was prior to the Knicks’ strong close to the regular season (16-4) and their disappointing playoff performance against the Atlanta Hawks.

If New York’s decision-makers decide against re-signing Burks and Bullock and look for another wing in free agency, the club will have options.

DeMar DeRozan, Norman Powell, Kelly Oubre Jr., Will Barton, Doug McDermott, Josh Hart, Danny Green, Duncan Robinson, and Nic Batum are among the guards/wings on the free agent market.

If the Knicks are looking for a young player with upside on both ends of the floor, Oubre fits that description.

The New York Post reported that there is mutual interest between Oubre and the Knicks. SNY hasn’t independently confirmed that report. Some with the Mavs are fans of Oubre, per SNY sources. He’ll surely garner interest from several teams this offseason.

April 27, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 27, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The 25-year-old has a 7-2 wing span and ranked in the 90th percentile in block percentage and 68th percentile in steal percentage last year with the Warriors, per Cleaning The Glass.

Oubre had an up-and-down season with Golden State. But he thrived in the month of February during a stretch when James Wiseman was sidelined due to injury.

In that span, he was able to flourish as a rim finisher (Oubre shot 64 percent at the rim this season) and was a net positive for Golden State.

Oubre shot 43 percent from beyond the arc on six attempts per game in February. But his outside shooting is an area where the Knicks – or any other Oubre suitor – would be betting on Oubre to improve.

The 6-7 wing shot 32 percent from beyond the arc last season. Some players – including Jae Crowder, Trevor Ariza, and New York’s Julius Randle – have improved their 3-point shooting significantly after age 25.

Regarding the other players listed above, various reports have stated the Knicks are interested in DeRozan and Powell. New York internally considered trading for Batum in the 2020 offseason when Charlotte was trying to move him to complete the Gordon Hayward signing.

The Knicks are also familiar with McDermott. The current Pacer was acquired by New York in the 2017 Carmelo Anthony trade to Oklahoma City.

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