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Knicks expected to land former 20-point scorer
Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks are adding some much-needed firepower off their bench next season.

The Knicks are expected to sign former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson once he clears waivers, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move was reported just hours after the Jazz bought out the remaining $14.3 million on Clarkson’s deal.

Clarkson is exactly the type of player the Knicks need. The Filipino-American guard is a proven scorer, averaging at least 15 points per game in each of the last seven seasons. He is capable of taking over scoring duties whenever All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson sits. New York has several lengthy wing players who can help mask Clarkson’s defensive limitations.

Depth, or lack thereof, was a serious issue for the Knicks last season. The team’s starting lineup of Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart all averaged over 35 minutes per game in the Knicks’ playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride were the only two bench players to average more than eight minutes per contest in the playoffs. It didn’t help that Robinson was later thrust into the starting lineup after a Knicks starter became borderline unplayable.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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