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NBA Rumors: New York Knicks could target Jonathon Simmons in free agency

By Michael Saenz

May 22, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Jonathon Simmons (17) shoots the ball as Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green (23) and Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) defend during the first half in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Jonathon Simmons (17) shoots the ball as Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green (23) and Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) defend during the first half in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Rumors: Among other targets, the New York Knicks are expected to show some level of interest in free agent forward Jonathon Simmons

The New York Knicks swung big during free agency last summer. They landed Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings and traded for Derrick Rose last offseason. However, almost all of those offseason swings were big misses.

New York failed to make the playoffs, and ended up with the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. They weren’t even close to making the playoffs.

Nevertheless, that won’t stop the Knicks from being aggressive again this summer. And a few names that could/will end up being targets for the Knicks during free agency are Dante Cunningham, P.J. Tucker and, perhaps most intriguing, Jonathon Simmons.

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"[via ESPN]The club has preliminary interest in veteran free agent P.J. Tucker, per league sources.…New York has also shown preliminary interest in New Orleans Pelicans forward and free-agent-to-be Dante Cunningham, per sources.…Many in the Knicks organization are also high on Spurs wing Jonathon Simmons (as are 29 other teams)."

Cunningham and Tucker would be nice signings, don’t get me wrong. But it would be huge if the Knicks were able to land a player like Simmons. The 6-foot-6 27-year-old forward has shown real flashes of brilliance during his first couple seasons in the NBA.

Simmons didn’t see the court much against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the postseason, but against the Rockets and Warriors he has. Against Houston, Simmons averaged 13 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field. That was in roughly 24 minutes per game.

Against the Warriors, stepping in for Kawhi Leonard, Simmons averaged 15 points, three rebounds and three assists on 39 percent shooting from three-point range – in 28 minutes per contest.

Simmons is no superstar, but he’s definitely a player, who was developed under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, that you want on your team. He does all the little things, and then some.

Must Read: 2017 NBA Draft: Top 10 Big Board

He’s the type of player that sets the tone for a team. And if the Knicks go through with trading Carmelo Anthony this summer, adding a player like Simmons could be one way in replacing the perennial all-star.

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