Ronnie Brewer Headed To Knicks

Swingman Ronnie Brewer will be joining the New York Knicks, according to his agent Henry Thomas.

Thomas would not disclose the terms of the deal, but it's reportedly a one-year contract likely for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million, which is all the Knicks could offer.

"He will be a great fit," Thomas told ESPN New York. "He is a tremendous wing defender and offensively he simply knows how to play -- moving without the ball, slashing to the basket. His outside shooting has improved and will continue to, and he is an excellent passer and underrated ball-handler."

Brewers, who played with the Chicago Bulls last season, said joining another playoff team and the opportunity to start were attractive factors for Brewer joining the Knicks. This could mean that J.R. Smith will continue to be the Knicks' sixth man, which he was mostly last season.

The 6-foot-7, 227-pound Brewer has career averages of 9.0 points and 1.4 steals in seven seasons. It's his lockdown abilities that were likely most attractive to the Knicks with defensive specialist Iman Shumpert (knee) out for the first half of next season.

Brewer is viewed as an upgrade over Landry Fields, who the Knicks let go after not matching the Toronto Raptors' three-year, $20 million offer sheet. For the money he'll be earning, Brewer is a financial steal, and now the Knicks have someone they will feel confident guarding the best shooting guards and small forwards in the league.