On March 12, the New York Knicks were 18-24. They fired coach Mike D’Antoni and placed Mike Woodson at the helm. By season’s end the Knicks were 36-30. An 18-6 run earned New York the #7 seed before they were eliminated the Miami Heat. While the season may have ended unceremoniously, Woodson appeared to have connected with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. There was reason for hope in New York.
The Knicks introduced their geriatric free agent signings today. Point guard Jason Kidd and center Marcus Camby possess a combined 34 years of NBA experience, and are nowhere near the All-Star ceilings they reached in their primes. Are the Knicks wasting their money on these veterans?
Jason Kidd
Kidd averaged 5.5 assists per game last season, a career low. His 6.2 points per game were also a career low. So were his 28.7 minutes per game. Kidd could blame a championship hangover, a compressed schedule that especially hurt veterans or a limited role. Regardless, Kidd gets a change of scenery and will serve as a backup point guard for the first time in his career. Spelling (and mentoring) Jeremy Lin, Kidd will typically run the offense against backup point guards and even at 40-years old, Kidd will get his (read: drop dimes) from time to time against teams’ B point guards. Newly resigned shooters J.R. Smith and Steve Novak will turn many a kickout three into a Kidd assist. But is Kidd really an improvement? Kidd shot 36% last season. New York’s backup point guards Baron Davis and Mike Bibby shot 37% and 28%, respectively. The Big Guy loves Baron Davis, and has to defend his boy here. Davis averaged 4.7 APG over 20.5 MPG last season. That means he averaged 8.4 assists/ 36 minutes compared to Kidd’s 6.9 assists/36 minutes. Simply, Davis shot slightly better and dropped dimes more frequently than Kidd. So is Kidd an improvement? No.
Marcus Camby
When Tyson Chandler needs a spell at center, the Knicks will replace him with an older version of himself. Camby averaged 4.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game last season with the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers while shooting five times per game. For a team that ran Josh Harrellson out as their reserve center, a 38-year-old Camby does represent an improvement.
The Knicks’ pair of big names only bring one improvement. The biggest successes have been the resignings of Novak, Lin and the Tattooed Streak. If the Knicks are able to bring back Landry Fields, the offseason will be seen as a success. Facing the additions of Miami, the Knicks will be hard pressed to best the Heat, but a home playoff series does seem within reach.
The Big Guy
The Sports Guys 
