Knicks: What place maximizes Immanuel Quickley’s impression transferring ahead?
With two games so far in the NBA Summer League, the New York Knicks have given Immanuel Quickley the opportunity to shine as point guard. He may not have made the best appearance in their first competition, but he turned it around on Tuesday with an impressive performance against the Pacers with 32 points and 8 assists. Just check out some of these highlights:
What he has proven in these two games is that he thrives as the primary ball handler on the court and certainly has the playmaking skills required to play the 1 in the NBA. However, it’s just not capacity where the Knicks will need him the most in the coming season.
Look at the Knicks list
If Immanuel Quickley were to be listed as point guard for 2021-2022, he would be the third option behind Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose. The Knicks would also have to replace Luca Vildoza, who has a non-guaranteed contract.
From now on, the most likely role for the 22-year-old from Kentucky would be the substitute SG with Evan Fournier at the start. This would save him most of the playing time and the option to replace either Rose or Walker should they get injured.
This is probably the most ideal situation for Quickley in the future. No matter how well he can moderate and handle the ball, he fits most naturally into the role of the shooting guard. If you keep him in his regular position and give him the occasional reps on PG, he can continue to grow as a valuable combo guard.
What Quickley’s Summer League Achievement Means
As we’ve seen all of last season, Quickley is most effective when he hits the ball well. This allows him to penetrate more efficiently and thus collapse the defenses and find the open man or stand up for his patented floater. All of this was evident in the first two summer league games for the Knicks.
Against the Pacers on Tuesday, Quickley played with fearlessness and aggressiveness that resulted from increased confidence in his shot. After seeing the ball go in a few times, it started attacking the edge, forcing the defenders to engage. This not only gave the Knicks players wide open looks, but also got him to the free-throw line, where he went 6-6. After the game, he showed an increased sense of maturity when talking about his role in the Summer League.
“I’ve been here for about a year … I’ve been in playoff games. I just pass on my knowledge to the new boys, the young boys. Obi and I are doing a great job and we understand that we need to help these guys and communicate. ”- Immanuel Quickley on NYPost
Quickley seems like a player who understands what to do to help the team win. No matter what you ask of him, he will do his best. As for the upcoming season, he’ll understand that the best way to help the Knicks is through the position of shooting guard. Long-term, Quickley could be the solution for the team at PG with Rose and Walkers’ contracts expiring in two years. Rose is on a three-year contract, but the final season is not guaranteed.
