There's no question the Knicks need help in the middle ... but is unrestricted free agent
Kwame Brown the answer? Last week,
a New York Post report surfaced that the team was interested in offering a one-year deal to a FA center, including the ex-Bobcat.
Although Brown finished this past season above average, averaging 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in his last 12 games, his overall 2010-11 campaign and most of his 10-year career have been average; not to mention, inconsistent. In 2003-04, he averaged 10.9 points per game, but the following season he dropped to 7.0 ppg and then his minutes sunk below 20 minutes per game -- until only last season. Averaging 26 minutes per game, he put up 7.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 0.6 bpg, while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 58.9 percent from the line.
If Brown arrives in the Big Apple, don't expect a big upgrade over last season's usual starting center
Ronny Turiaf, according to Basketball Prospectus'
SCHOENE projection system. If Brown plays Turiaf's identical minutes from last season (17.8 mpg), he will average 4.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game in 2011-12 with the Knicks. Compared to Turiaf, who averaged 4.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.1 bpg in 2010-11, Brown's numbers would be a downgrade in terms of shot blocking, but not in terms of rebounding. The scoring averages are a wash, but Turiaf shot 64. percent last year and the projection only shows Brown shooting 52.5 percent from the field next season.
I spoke with an NBA trainer to get his take on Brown, based on his history in the league since former Wizards president of basketball operations
Michael Jordan made him the No. 1 pick of the 2001 draft:
"The first positive is his inside presence, which will allow
Amare Stoudemire to play at the four spot and shoot perimeter shots from the elbow. They can play a high-low game together, and Amare will be able to play the high post. Two, Kwame's now an experienced veteran who's been on a number of teams and has learned from a number of coaches. MJ took him under his wing and he's matured a lot, so he'll bring veteran leadership to a young Knicks team. Three, Kwame's in great shape. His body is strong, which will enable him to match up defensively against
Dwight Howard and big presence players -- the
Marc Gasol's, the
Andrew Bynum's. He can keep other teams off the offensive glass and he'll take some pressure off Amare to rebound.
As far as negatives, he has
Joel Anthony syndrome. He has small hands and has a hard time catching the ball. Offensively, he's not going to put a lot of pressure on anyone. Dwight Howard isn't going to have to worry about checking him. Scoring is not Kwame's role. He can attack the offensive glass, but he's not going to draw double teams in the post. Also, he's not an energy guy like Ronny.
Overall, Kwame would help the Knicks greatly as a back-up, but going into next season as the starting center is not the answer the team should be looking for to take them to championship contention. However, he is a good addition to the team because he can play physical down low. He'll crash the boards and block shots."
Now, the lockout waiting game begins ...