The New York Knicks are aiming to strengthen their roster depth as they prepare to compete more effectively in the Eastern Conference next season. To enhance their second unit, the team acquired Guerschon Yabusele from the Philadelphia 76ers, expecting him to bring a much-needed spark off the bench.
Yabusele’s Potential to Upgrade the Second Unit’s Offensive Threat
The addition of Yabusele is seen as a key factor to improve the Knicks’ bench scoring, which was among the lowest in the league last season. According to Forbes contributor Mat Issa,
“While it turned out that their bench wasn’t as terrible as Tom Thibodeau’s Machiavellian treatment of the starters would suggest, they still didn’t have much bite once the starters left the floor.”
Yabusele’s advanced metrics highlight his offensive capabilities, placing him in the 84th percentile league-wide in offensive Estimated Plus-Minus.
“Yabusele will step in and immediately become their bullpen’s best reliever. According to Estimated Plus-Minus (arguably the best one-number metric on the market because it incorporates tracking data), Yabusele placed in the 84th percentile in the entire league on the offensive side of the ball (per Dunks & Threes). That ranks higher than any non-starter from last year’s Knicks team. Heck, that ranks higher than everyone not named Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns,”
Mat Issa wrote.
Bench Scoring Challenges and New Additions
Last season, the Knicks ranked last in the NBA for bench points per game, averaging 21.6 points, trailing even the 29th-ranked Los Angeles Lakers, who averaged 26.2 points from their second unit. This low output was partly due to limited minutes for the bench compared to starters rather than just a lack of talent. The front office hopes that adding Yabusele alongside Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson will notably boost the bench’s scoring production.
Outlook for a Stronger Eastern Conference Contender
If the Knicks successfully increase their bench scoring through these new additions, it could be a crucial step in overcoming previous hurdles and becoming legitimate contenders to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. The improved depth and offensive versatility may provide the Knicks with new strategic options as the season unfolds.