As the Knicks hit the floor for the second practice in Las Vegas, the franchise officially announced the acquisition of four veterans that will reshape the team heading into the 2014-15 season.
The Knicks inked guard Arron Afflalo, center Robin Lopez, forward Derrick Williams, and forward/center Kyle O’Quinn in free agency. For the first time since the signings, head coach Derek Fisher reacted to the deals and provided some insight into how New York will improve with the new players on board.
“We needed size up front and we talked a lot about defending and rebounding being areas that we had to focus on and so we feel like Robin in the middle does that for us,” Fisher proclaimed.
O’Quinn, a Queens native, landed in New York via a sign-and-trade with the Magic. Fisher believes the addition of O’Quinn will help offset the loss of Jason Smith while bolstering the Knicks frontcourt.
“We like what Kyle O’Quinn does in terms of his ability to handle the basketball, shoot it, and play from the elbow down, really good passer,” Fisher reiterated.
At the guard spot, New York will now feature a veteran that is known for a strong midrange game and ability to create scoring opportunities from the post position at the pinch post in the Triangle offense.
“Arron Afflalo is a pro, one of the hardest working guys in the league,” the head coach described. “Also, a physical guy that can guard multiple players.”
Additionally, the Knicks brought in the former No. 2 overall pick Williams on the wing to add an athletic player that can float to multiple positions on the floor.
“His versatility is something we are excited about,” Fisher confirmed. “We see where the game is going and how important it is to have guys that can do multiple things.”
New York’s president Phil Jackson summed up the first free agency stage by stating, “We are fortunate to add these four new players to our roster that has brought the team veteran talent and leadership and youth.”
The four free agents will make the trip to Las Vegas for media availability tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned to NYKnicks.com for comprehensive coverage.