New York Knicks: Discussing Offseason Plans

With a 12-51 record, the New York Knicks find themselves at the bottom of the standings and will most likely stay there for the remainder of the season. The roster is full of players who would be warming the bench for most contenders in the NBA.

Some are strong, but generally speaking, they lack they talent to produce a respectable brand of basketball on a nightly basis.

Although there are still games to be played this season, every Knicks fan has their sights set on the offseason with the hopes that Phil Jackson will be able to create a contender in New York. It will take more than one offseason to build a championship caliber team, but there are definitely steps the franchise can take this offseason to get things moving in the right direction.

Due to the lack of excitement in Knicks basketball these days, I figured it would be fun to share with you fine people what I think the Knicks should look to accomplish in the summer months of 2015.

First, the Knicks need to remember whom they have decided to build their franchise around. Carmelo Anthony is a player who expects the offensive to revolve around him. The isolation game is what he does, and his track record says that’s unlikely to change.

For this reason, bringing in star-caliber players may not work the way everyone would expect.

For example, I do not see a guy like Kevin Durant playing well with Carmelo Anthony. They both need the ball in their hands in order to be effective. I am aware that Durant is not a free agent until the 2016 offseason, but I do know that he is on the Knicks radar.

For that reason, I say if the Knicks have invested themselves in Melo, stay away from Durant.

February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Eastern Conference forward Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks (7) smiles during the second half of the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

One star that the Knicks should submit a max offer to this offseason—and they should do so without hesitation—is LaMarcus Aldridge. He would provide the perfect compliment to Anthony, and would give Knicks the ideal foundation to build from. The only problem with this idea is I am unsure if Aldridge will want to leave the Portland Trail Blazers for a team in a rebuilding phase.

Regardless, the Knicks should make signing him their number one priority.

When it comes to signing other free agents, New York must approach this task with caution. They cannot afford to overpay for players that may not live up to their end of the bargain. When thinking about a scenario in which this might occur, the player that comes to mind is Rajon Rondo.

Rondo’s glory days are behind him, and he is experiencing a rough season in Dallas. Although he is not worth a huge contract, their may still be a team willing to give him one. The Knicks cannot be that team!

Mar 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

New York should try their best to sign Reggie Jackson. As a restricted free agent, I have a feeling that Detroit will match any offer made to him. If this does not work out, they can always look to acquire other restricted free agents such as Brandon Knight or Patrick Beverly.

I know you are probably asking, “what about Goran Dragic?” I don’t see him leaving Miami.

The Knicks can also look to the draft to fill the void at point guard as well with prospects such as Emmanuel Mudiay and combo guard D’Angelo Russell.

The Knicks need to identify the roles that need to be filled on their roster, and base their free agency agenda on those needs. They cannot just go after the sexiest name on the market because that does not always produce a winning team.

I would love for them to go after Wesley Matthews, as long as there is evidence that he has recovered from his injury. He is a great perimeter defender who can also score, which are two things the Knicks are in desperate need of.

Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) reacts after making a three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

I will say it one more time: New York does not need players who score 30 points per game. It needs role players who will play well with Carmelo Anthony and bring a “never back down” mindset to the court each time out.

Regarding the draft, the Knicks will most likely have one of the first three picks. There will be temptation to trade the pick away for a player that has already established themselves in the league. I don’t recommend doing this, and believe the Knicks should use their high draft pick on a player they believe has the potential to give the franchise a bright future.

Of course there are always circumstances in which trading the pick is the better move, but the Knicks need to be wowed by the offer in order for them to consider it.

On the current roster, there are a few keepers who can provide some good minutes off the bench. Some names that come to mind are Langston Galloway, Louis Amundson, Alexey Shved, and Andrea Bargnani if the price is right.

New York needs to do what they can to deal Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jose Calderon to other teams. Hardaway Jr. has shown the Knicks nothing special during a season when he had the opportunity to step up and impress some people.

Another player I would like to see removed from the Knicks roster is Cleanthony Early. His trade value is somewhere between a bag of Skittles and a bowl of popcorn, so he will most likely just be sent down to the D-League.

Mar 10, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; New York Knicks center Andrea Bargnani (77) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 87-82. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Well, there it is ladies and gentlemen. This is just a quick summary of how I believe the New York Knicks should spend their offseason. As the draft and free agency get closer, I will get more detailed about the moves the team should make; but this should provide a little food for thought for you fine people.

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