National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: 5 Reasons To Love The Damien Inglis Signing

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:07 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The New York Knicks have signed free agent forward Damien Inglis. Why should you care about Inglis becoming a member of the Knicks?

Apr 8, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko (8) steals the ball from Milwaukee Bucks forward Damien Inglis (17) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

In two brief seasons, the Westchester Knicks have become a genuine developmental tool for the New York Knicks. Not every team embraces the value of the NBA D-League, but New York has found reason to do so.

The latest roster move proves that the the Knicks are firmly committed to utilizing the NBA D-League as a means for developing long-term assets.

The Knicks announced the signing of free agent forward Damien Inglis on Tuesday, October 11. Inglis, who was drafted at No. 31 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, played 13 games for Westchester in 2014.

He’s now officially a member of the Knicks.

Inglis will likely start in the NBA D-League.

During his time in Westchester in 2015-16, Inglis recorded averages of 9.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.9 3-point field goals made in 21.4 minutes per game. He did so on a slash line of .444/.364/.636.

Inglis’ production and overall quality of play was strong enough for Westchester to give him another chance.

Inglis will start with the Westchester Knicks, but there are reasons to love this signing for New York. He has the potential to earn a main roster spot in due time and play a significant role in the long-term.

The question is: why should you care about the Inglis signing?

5. Physical Gifts

It’s hard to define the value of a player who can impact a game by merely stepping onto the court. Said players often have elite physical gifts that enable them to provide a quality presence on either end by merely putting those measurements to use.

Damien Inglis is the type of player who, from a physical perspective, has everything that a team looks for in a starting-caliber player.

Inglis stands at 6’8.5″ and 246 pounds with a massive 7’3″ wingspan and plus athleticism. He runs the floor well, moves fluidly in the half court, and shuffles his feet well on the defensive end of the floor.

Inglis’ first step could be quicker, but that may just be a matter of shedding excess weight—a manageable task at this point of his career.

A product of Inglis’ physical gifts is the occasional brilliance with which he passes. He maintains his balance in the post and has a high point of view at the top of the key, which enables him to make crafty dishes to players cutting to the rim.

If Inglis can shed roughly 10 pounds, he could play small forward on a full-time basis. If not, then he can still play the 4.

4. Positional Versatility

As previously established, there aren’t many players in the NBA with more intriguing physical gifts than Damien Inglis. He has the size, powerful build, lengthy wingspan, and athleticism to be an impact player on both ends.

More important to the New York Knicks and the attempt to adapt to the modern NBA is the fact that Inglis can play both forward positions.

Standing at just under 6’9″ and 246 pounds with a 7’3″ wingspan, Inglis has the build of an NBA power forward. He also has the versatility to play small forward, which is the position at which he’s most commonly listed.

That could work wonderfully for the New York Knicks, as head coach Jeff Hornacek is the type of strategist who can blur positional lines.

Carmelo Anthony can play either small forward or power forward, and Lance Thomas can do the same. If either player is on the floor, then Inglis could potentially become an ideal complement at the other forward spot.

It’s not as easy as it may seem to find players with genuine positional versatility, but that’s what the Westchester Knicks have in Inglis.

3. Defensive Potential

NBA organizations have long coveted players who can defend multiple positions at a high level. That versatility is difficult to find, especially at a time when the lines have been blurred as it pertains to what the positions are.

Between his size, strength, length, and agility, Damien Inglis has the potential to defend at least two positions on a consistent basis.

Inglis has the size and strength to defend the post, which gives him intriguing value at the 4. He also has the length—7’3″ wingspan—to block shots, deter slashers, and recover quickly when out of position.

That size and length also enables him to become a quality pick and roll defender, albeit with a need to change direction with improved agility.

Along the perimeter, Inglis’ length and near 9’0″ standing reach enables him to be a force of nature. He can pick an opponent’s pocket, dominate the passing lanes, keep slashers in front of him, and adequately contest jump shots from virtually every small forward in the NBA.

It’s all a matter of putting it all together—something that head coach Jeff Hornacek could help the newest member of the New York Knicks do. See: P.J. Tucker.

2. 3-Point Shooting

Though it’s not yet polished and solidified as a strength, there’s little question about whether or not Damien Inglis can shoot. He has the range and release point to be one of the more productive 3-point shooters in the NBA D-League.

If Inglis’ quality shooting continues from the 2015-16 D-League season into 2016-17, then it could behoove the New York Knicks to give him a shot at a main roster spot.

Inglis struggled to shoot the 3-ball in the NBA, converting just 23.1 percent of his attempts in 20 games played. Fluctuating playing time makes it difficult to evaluate that small sample size of 13 attempts, however, which is why it’s easily overlooked.

Inglis has solid mechanics, a high release point, and an intriguing ability to get his shot off without being given much space to do so.

Inglis made 12 3-point field goals in 13 games with the Westchester Knicks in 2015-16. That’s still a small sample size, but he shot 36.4 percent from distance and has the potential to convert at a clip of 40 percent.

Though he may not be an elite marksman just yet, it’s imperative to note that he’s only 21 years of age and already has an employable skill.

1. Upside

It’s been established that Damien Inglis has a combination of skills and strengths that create a tantalizing profile. He’s yet to put it all together, however, which is why he’s going to be playing for the Westchester Knicks.

Considering he’s still just 21 years of age, the New York Knicks are right to believe he has untapped potential that must be explored.

Inglis has the physical gifts, positional versatility, defensive upside, and shooting mechanics to be a high-quality NBA player. That would be less attractive if he were deep into his career, but he’s still young and hungry.

Though the Knicks have a number of small forwards on the roster, Inglis could provide invaluable depth behind either Carmelo Anthony or Kristaps Porzingis.

The best case scenario is that Inglis works hard enough to turn his individual abilities into a full and flourishing skill set. If he does so, then he has the potential to be one of the more dynamic role players in the NBA.

If he doesn’t work out, then the New York Knicks invested a minimal cost into attempting to develop a tantalizing young player.

This is a no-risk, high-reward investment by the Knicks. That alone is reason to love it.

More from Daily Knicks

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association