Rajon Rondo (L) and Jeremy Lin. (Photo : Getty Images)
With the fast-paced style of incoming Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek set to become the norm in New York as a triangle offense veering season is speculated, "traditional point guards" Rajon Rondo and Jeremy Lin are rumored to be in the team's crosshairs in the coming free-agency period.
The New York Post indicated that team president Phil Jackson's staple triangle offense system "could be dead and buried" with the impending appointment of Hornacek as the Knicks' chief bench tactician next season.
Reports were out that Jackson is amenable to not obliging Hornacek to use the system that brought him 11 NBA titles in the past as its critics claim it to be already "outdated". The triangle allegedly has turned off elite point guards to come and play in New York as it is said to be "restrictive" to the creativity of a floor general.
Hence, Hornacek's hiring is expected to boost the Knicks' chances to snag either Rondo or Lin this summer because his system is said to be "friendly" to point guards. The two players are set to become unrestricted free agents in the offseason and both are anticipated to command a lot of offers from several teams.
Hornacek used to oversee three up-and-coming number ones with the Phoenix Suns, namely Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas, as he utilized pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops, fast breaks, and three-point shooting to bring out the highest potential of the trio.
Both Rondo and Lin thrive in such environments during their best seasons with the Celtics and Knicks respectively.
Knicks team leader Carmelo Anthony publicly pitched for Rondo in March, saying that he thinks the one-time champion playmaker could do well in any type of offense.
"I think Rondo - just me personally, I don't want to be tampering - but I've heard he said he wouldn't thrive in a system like this," said Anthony, as per the New York Daily News. "I think he'd be perfect in a system like this."
Meanwhile, former NBA floor general Chauncey Billups also said in March that the triangle is a "turnoff" for top free agent point guards.
"If I'm a top point guard and a free agent, I'm not going to want to be playing in that triangle," said the former Finals MVP. "A point guard needs more pick-and-roll, more freedom. It's going to be restrictive to my play."
