I was like 500 words deep into a post about the remaining free agent shooting guards when, lo and behold, the Knicks reached an agreement with a free agent shooting guard. It wasn't a very good post, so don't fret. Here's David Aldridge with the news:
Knicks continue to build backcourt, agreeing 2 terms with ex-Bull Ronnie Brewer on one-year deal, per source. Check the Hang Time Bkog soon.
There are some rather mixed opinions of Brewer around here, but the fit is clear: Brewer can play shooting guard, and the Knicks want someone to take minutes at that spot while Iman Shumpert is injured and J.R. Smith needs his rests (which, for a man who never sleeps, must be often).
As far as what Brewer brings to the court, well...he's regarded as a top-notch wing defender who also likes to spot up from the perimeter. I stop at "likes to" because a quick look at mySynergySports.com reveals that he took a bunch of spot-up jumpers but only hit 29 percent of them in '11-'12. That funky jump shot (if you don't know the water slide story, check it out) is beautiful and endearing, but fell off sharply in terms of accuracy last season, and it's never been effective from downtown. On the other hand, Brewer moves well without the ball and can do some forward stuff and, as Zach Lowe points out, might be able to shift up a spot to let Carmelo Anthony play some four.
No matter what, for the veteran's minimum of $1.1 million for one year (which is what this must be), Brewer's a great deal and definitely fills at least one need. (He's also one of the few remaining CAA wings, so his signing won't upset anybody, because that's how things work around here. It was pretty much him or Morris Almond). I'm fine with this.
Questions will soon emerge about whether Brewer or Smith makes more sense as the starting two and about how the rotation will shake out if and when Shump returns this season. We'll cross those bridges when we come to them. First, this needs to be made official.
Update: Brewer:
New York Knicks lets get it!!!