The New York Knicks are struggling to find consistency this season and are expected to make moves before the trade deadline next month. The Knicks need all the help they can get in every position, but solving their frontcourt issues might be on top of their priority list.
The Knicks hired Jeff Hornacek as their new head coach last summer. However, it remains no secret that Phil Jackson still wants his team to run the Triangle offense, which helped him win 11 NBA championships as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, in order to maximize the potential of the complicated offense, the Knicks need a solid frontcourt player. Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe could be a good fit for the Knicks and their offense, Bleacher Report noted.
Monroe is a back-to-the-basket type of big man unlike Knicks budding superstar Kristaps Porzingis, who also loves to play in the perimeter. The veteran center is averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds but has proven before moving to Milwaukee that he can score in bunches if given enough touches.
The 26-year-old center is still on the trading block, as he has struggled to fit into coach Jason Kidd's offense. The Knicks tried to sign Monroe in 2015 but failed to convince him to move to the Big Apple. The Knicks might entice the Bucks using a trade package involving Brandon Jennings.
Aside from their offensive woes, the Knicks also need to address their interior defense. Philadelphia 76ers power forward Nerlens Noel is seen as a possible solution to their frontcourt woes.
Noel is averaging 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for the 76ers this season. The 22-year-old has been mentioned in numerous trade rumors because of their crowded frontcourt rotation, which also includes Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid.
The Knicks already have Joakim Noah, who is a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year. However, TNT analyst Brent Barry thinks the former Chicago Bulls star is hurting the Knicks more than he is helping them this season.
"He's not impacting the game, doesn't have the ability or energy to move laterally or go vertical," Barry said via New York Post. "He's never been a good shot-blocker but a position defender and that's a huge damaging impact on the backline of a very porous defense."