New York Knicks: Emmanuel Mudiay is making a convincing case to be the long-term point guard

Emmanuel Mudiay is making a convincing case to be the New York Knicks starting point guard beyond the 2018-19 season

Emmanuel Mudiay was viewed as the third point guard on the New York Knicks depth chart behind Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina heading into the 2018-19 season. There was even a point in time where it looked like Mudiay could be released.

But now he’s become head coach David Fizdale’s starting point guard and is excelling, which proposes an intriguing question for president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry: should they re-sign Mudiay in the offseason to be their long-term starting point guard?

The Knicks are the youngest team in the NBA and have several players competing for consistent playing time. Fizdale has experimented with a number of lineups, but it appears a set in stone rotation is establishing itself; that rotation features Mudiay as the starting point guard.

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After missing the beginning of the season with an ankle injury, and, when he returned, serving as a reserve, Mudiay answered the call when called upon, ultimately to earn the starting point guard gig.

Before finishing with 32 points, six assists, and six rebounds against the Phoenix Suns Monday night, he was averaging a career-high 13.1 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting from the field (another career-high).

Furthermore, headed into Monday night, he was averaging 15.5 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field in the 17 games he started.

Last Friday, Mudiay helped lead the Knicks to a 21-point comeback victory on the road in overtime against the Charlotte Hornets. Finishing the night with a career-high 34 points while totaling eight assists, he continued to impress the Knicks faithful.

Whether it be playing in isolation, running the fastbreak, or attacking the rack, Mudiay has been a reliable source of offense for the Knicks. For his career, one of Mudiay’s biggest weaknesses has been finishing at the rim. He’s shown no issue playing with aggression and getting to the paint with the ball in his hands, but he’s struggled to execute once he gets inside. This season, he’s been finishing, and, as a result, producing at a higher rate.

The summer of 2019 is said to be the summer that the Knicks intend to make a significant free agent splash. They have the money to offer a nice contract, or two, to a proven player, but also have to figure out what to do with Kristaps Porzingis – who, for the moment, appears unlikely to play this season due to an ACL tear and is set to hit restricted free agency this offseason.

The Knicks have been the model for being unable to find a franchise point guard, or long-term player at the position. In fact, they’ve started a different point guard on opening night in eight of the last 10 seasons. And if Mudiay were to start on opening night of the 2019-20 season, the remarkable revolving door would continue. With that said, considering what their options are, from a realistic standpoint, couldn’t an argument be made that if Mudiay continues to find success he’s the Knicks’ best option at point guard for next season?

It appears as if Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker are going to re-up with their teams (Boston Celtics, Hornets) meaning that Goran Dragic, Jeff Teague, Eric Bledsoe, Ricky Rubio, and Terry Rozier will headline the 2019 free agent point guard class. While the first four individuals are proven commodities and have shown the ability to carry the scoring load and/or run an offense, they’ve all reached their ceilings. They’re also not viewed as franchise players at this stage of their respective careers.

It’s not to say they can’t be productive and run an offense, but if the Knicks are going to dish out a max contract, it’s unwise to back up the truck for one of those four veterans. While Rozier is a crafty playmaker and lockdown defender, he too would force the Knicks to undergo another point guard change; bringing in a new floor general from the outside, in general, to run the show means the Knicks would have to incorporate a vital piece into their rotation. Isn’t continuity worth something in the NBA?

The Knicks likely aren’t going to the playoffs this season, and they may miss the Spring festivities again next season, but they do have some young players worth keeping in the fold. Tim Hardaway Jr. (26) has continued to be the driving force of the Knicks offense and is averaging a career-high 21.0 points per game. Second-year wing Damyean Dotson (24) has played a more consistent role this season and is showcasing the ability to be an offensive spark plug off the bench and a lockdown defender.

Rookies Kevin Knox (19), Mitchell Robinson (20), and Allonzo Trier (22) have all shown glimpses of potential; Knox is coming into his own as a reliable scorer at the NBA level; while he’s struggled to stay out of foul trouble, Robinson has showcased athleticism on the offensive end and an ability to defend at a high level; Trier has been a high-energy scorer when called upon.

Mudiay is still 22. He’s in the same class, in terms of age, as the players the Knicks are supposedly building around. He’s a former top-10 pick for a reason; he has talent. This season, that talent is producing results that the Denver Nuggets likely envisioned when they selected him in the 2015 NBA Draft. For whatever reason, it didn’t work out in Mile High for Mudiay. At the 2018 NBA trade deadline, the Knicks pulled off a three-team trade with the Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks where they traded Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick and received Mudiay.

Last season, Mudiay had his fair share of bright moments, but, as a whole, it was nothing that instilled the thought that he could be the New York Knicks’ long-term answer at point guard. This season, Mudiay has a head coach in Fizdale who believes in him and is giving him every chance to prove himself. And he’s taking advantage of the opportunity.

Emmanuel Mudiay is playing some of the most encouraging and consistent basketball of his career. And if it continues, it may be enough for the former No. 7 overall pick to stick in the Big Apple for the years to come.