FanPost

Better Fit For New York: Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook?

The New York Knicks look a lot different now than during the 2015-16 season, but with Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook potentially 2017 free-agents, which point guard fits better in New York.

Before we get into their role, let's briefly recap the moves the Knicks made during this off-season.

President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson was able to make a big splash in free agency trading for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose. Jackson also signed Rose's Bulls teammate Joakim Noah then adding back-court depth in guards Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings.

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Noah and Lee both signed multi-year deals, but Rose is finishing the final year of his Chicago Bulls deal which puts the Knicks in an unfamiliar position of being a prime destination for top tier players in 2017.

Here's where Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook come into the picture.

Both guards are in different circumstances, but find themselves having the opportunity to test the market at the end of this upcoming season. So which All-Star guard would fit better on this Knicks roster:

Chris Paul

Chris Paul is a model of consistency and though he hasn't won a championship yet, like fellow friend Carmelo Anthony, he has been the catalyst everywhere he's played.

Reviving the Los Angeles Clippers franchise out of the depths of the Western Conference is a feat in it's own right, but with an Early Termination Option (ETO) looming after this season he could choose to leave Los Angeles.

During the 2015-16 season, at age 31 Paul didn't show any sign of slowing down with averages of 19.5 points, 10 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.05 steals-per-game. Also, according to ESPN's John Hollinger's Player Efficiency Rating Statistics the Clippers guard ranked sixth in the NBA (26.31).

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What makes him a good fit is his ability to adapt to any situation. Whether it's the triangle offense, a Jeff Hornacek fast paced offense or a combination of both, he'll flourish in either system.

As one of the last true all-around point guards he'll find his niche and fit in with whatever the team needs to win.

Being close friends with Anthony and having one of the best young players in Kristaps Porzingis on the roster could help lure him because their individual games compliment each other.

Paul has an innate ability to make any teammate better. Mix this with his competitiveness on both ends of the floor or the fact he's able to create his own shot and shots for others makes the future hall-of-famer a perfect fit on a team who could use consistency at the most difficult position in today's NBA.

He's always adapted to his situation and being paired with two other great players, which he's never had the luxury of doing, could be a comfortably relieving situation for everyone.

Russell Westbrook

Yes Kevin Durant is now a member of the Golden State Warriors leaving Russell Westbrook to fend for himself in Oklahoma City, but with his free agency coming this summer his decision will be that more magnified.

The Thunder guard enjoyed a stellar season in 2015-16 averaging 23.5 points, 10.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds per-game while also ranking fourth in PER (27.64).

Westbrook is a relentless, highly competitive player who could take on the challenge of playing for the Knicks. From a basketball perspective New York could definitely be an enticing place, but being a noticeably fashion driven guy also could work in his favor too.

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The 27-years-old guard is now beginning to enter his prime and pairing him with a young Porzingis seems like an ideal thought, but the Anthony factor could be a problem.

Both players are high volume scorers who command the ball, especially Westbrook who led the NBA last season in usage rate, and they were also both top 10 in shot-attempts per-game.

There's always been the floating description that he's a shooting guard playing the point guard position and whether you believe this or not, he has improved every year in the passing department.

Just like Paul, Westbrook could fit in the Knicks system because he effects the game in a variety of ways. He's four years younger then Paul and it seems realistic to pair him on a team building around a younger big-man.

These two guards are more than just one-dimensional players, which makes their value at an all-time high with many suitors salivating over the chance to sign them.

Though Paul currently seems like a more natural fit with this team, both players would respectively effect the team in their own way and shift the Eastern Conference landscape if either decides signing to New York.

If Phil Jackson doesn't extend Rose's contract, Paul opts out of his Clippers deal and Westbrook doesn't sign anywhere long-term, then the Knicks have a phenomenal opportunity to get back to prominence with the help of one these All-Stars.