When the offseason finally gets under way, the New York Knicks will have their work cut out for them. Phil Jackson and his colleagues will attempt to do everything possible to give Derek Fisher the talent he needs to achieve his projected 63 wins.
Although there is much work to be done, signing LaMarcus Aldridge to a max contract needs to be their number one priority.
The 29-year-old Portland Trail Blazers power forward is currently having the best season of his career. Aldridge is averaging a career-high 23.5 points per game. In addition, he always puts in a strong effort on the boards averaging 7.8 defensive and 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.
His offensive rebounding numbers might appear to be a little low, but when you are on one of the best teams in the league, the opportunity to gobble up missed shots isn’t always there.
April 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12, center) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12, right) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Knicks are in desperate need of a dominant big man. Once the glory days of Patrick Ewing drifted away into the sunset, New York has come up short in acquiring someone to fit that role. LaMarcus Aldridge could be just what the doctor ordered. He is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court, and can achieve greatness, even with a ball-dominant scorer like Carmelo Anthony.
‘Melo is going to make it difficult for the Knicks to bring any “big name” talent to New York this offseason. In order for Anthony to be effective, he needs to have the ball in his hands when he’s on the court. However, if a guy like Aldridge is dominating the post, the team will be forced to give him looks. In addition, just because ‘Melo shoots the ball a lot does not mean his shots always go in. I would feel a lot better about him putting up all these shots if there were someone reliable waiting to pull down his misses and put them in the basket.
Reports have recently surfaced that the Knicks are looking at Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons to fill their big man void. Although would be a solid addition to this desperate team, the Knicks should try to pursue Aldridge first.
Although I think the Knicks should pursue LaMarcus Aldridge, I cannot say with confidence that he has any interest in coming to New York. He is playing for a championship-caliber team with a bright future in a city that does not get a lot of national coverage. Moving to a team that has so many question marks in a city where you can’t blow your nose without a million people watching may not be on his list of things to do.
Still, it would be foolish of Jackson and the gang to not give acquiring this dominant big man their best shot.
Next: Tim Hardaway Jr. Has to Go
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