While he’s often been a loud voice for many of the wrong reasons in recent weeks and recent months, Kendrick Perkins is a former player that was respected during his time on the court. That respect led to relationships and a finger on the pulse of the NBA at least in some regard.
Recently on ESPN’s First Take, Perkins and the panel were discussing the New York Knicks, a team often linked to LaMelo Ball and his camp. Falling in line with the links from one party to another, Perkins stated the Knicks should draft Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft this fall to kick start their rebuild.
“The Knicks, first of all they need a foundation and they need culture. (Tom Thibodeau) is known for that. Also…they’re not going to be landing any free agents.
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But the Knicks need to draft well. That’s the first thing that they need to do. And the draft pick that they need to get is LaMelo Ball, period point blank. He’s got New York Knicks written all over him. He’s ready for that. That’s the guy that they need to draft and they need to build from right there.”
While the Knicks have been constantly linked to Ball in the last handful of months, only in the last week has Ball been linked to the Knicks. A piece from SYN’s Ian Begley noted for the first time that Ball’s and his camp want to land in New York, reciprocating the Knicks’ interest in the point guard.
Ball would add a buzz to the Knicks that hasn’t existed in quite some time. While he alone certainly wouldn’t draw big free agents to New York, he would bring back the excitement to the franchise that has long found itself a laughing stock at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.