Mike Conley (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The New York Knicks could be thinking of acquiring a star point guard to complement Jeff Hornacek's up-tempo offense.
The Knicks have started their own blueprint of success after hiring Hornacek as the team's next head coach. The New York Daily News reported that Hornacek, who coached the Phoenix Suns for nearly three seasons, agreed in principle to take over the Knicks' head coaching job and replace interim Kurt Rambis.
Interestingly, despite Phil Jackson seemingly ready to apply the triangle offense next season, Hornacek will be allowed to run the type of offense he wishes once he assumes the head coaching role.
Hornacek's hiring came as a surprise, considering the 53-year-old's very little background in running the triangle offense, although it could be a good thing to have someone other than Rambis, who was ineffective in coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2009-2011, as well as his short stint in guiding the Knicks in the second half of the season.
But there could be more in Hornacek's appointment as New York's next head coach other than the pros and cons of his system to what the triangle offense could offer. Hornacek has been known for his fast-paced offense as evident to the Suns being in the top 10 in the league in pace during his time in Phoenix.
As Chris Mannix of The Vertical noted, the Suns' top talent during Hornacek's coaching stint was in their backcourt lineup of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Brandon Knight and Isaiah Thomas. All these players have flourished in Hornacek's system, which leads to speculations that the Knicks should add guards of the same caliber for Hornacek's offense to effectively work.
The Knicks have been without an elite point guard since Jeremy Lin showed the potential to become a bona fide starting PG during the heat of "Linsanity." In the past season, the team only relied on the point guards like Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant, who have been ineffective for the Knicks, only averaging single digits in points.
"I compare a lot of things to how it was when I actually played in Phoenix, back in the day, with Kevin Johnson,'' Hornacek told Grantland following his appointment as the Suns' head coach as reported by the New York Post.
"We got into the offense really quickly. If you can get it in the post, or penetrate and kick out, and get that early shot in the first seven seconds or maybe eight seconds of the shot clock ..."
"Statistics say in the first eight seconds, you shoot a much higher percentage. A lot of it depends on what kind of players you have."
While the Knicks could still rely on Carmelo Anthony and rising star Kristaps Porzingis, there is no denying New York lacks a talented point guard to bring the team back to title contention. And with Hornacek having the freedom to maneuver his own choice of offensive schemes, there is a chance the Knicks could play a fast-paced up-tempo style of basketball. This is where Mike Conley enters the scene as the Knicks' star PG and Hornacek's main cog for a run-and-gun basketball brand.
Conley, who is set to explore free agency this summer, is regarded as one of the most-coveted PG in this year's draft class after helping the Memphis Grizzlies reach the playoffs in six-consecutive seasons. The 28-year-old point guard has the skills that fit Hornacek's type of offense and would certainly be an upgrade over Calderon and Grant.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported back last month that the Knicks' interest to pursue Conley may not be as strong as ever, but that was before the team went with Hornacek to coach the team. But even if the Knicks decide to suddenly pursue Conley, who will likely seek a max contract, the team would need to let go some of its own free agents like Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams, who have both shown potential to be key cogs in New York's success.
Hornacek's liberty to choose a system that fits the Knicks may not necessarily mean an up-tempo offense like what he applied to the Suns. But either way, whether it be some sort of a run-and-gun offense or utilizing the skillsets of Anthony and Porzingis, the Knicks should try to acquire someone like Conley in free agency.
