New York Knicks: Free Agents the Knicks Should Target Next Month

Although the New York Knicks will be strapped for cash this offseason, there are still viable options on the open market whom the team can potentially target.

Following the slew of private workouts and 2018 NBA Draft preparations, the New York Knicks’ next task will be to plan for the upcoming period of free agency that’s set to begin on July 1.

If Kyle O’Quinn and Enes Kanter follow Ron Baker’s decision to pick up their player options for next season, the Knicks will be left with very little room to work with.

General manager Scott Perry acknowledged the team’s cap situation when he appeared on the In the Key Podcast with B.J. Armstrong last week. He said:

"“What we’re really setting ourselves up is for the following summer. Just basically when I came in here in terms of cap space and availability, we’re not going to be a team with a whole lot of cap space this summer. So we’ll be looking for some shorter term, maybe some veteran players that can help some of our younger guys for this summer and really preparing and gearing up for free agency in the summer of ’19 and ’20.”"

Clearly, the Knicks’ plan is to sign veterans on short-term deals in order to clear the necessary cap space for next summer’s free agency period, which will include stars like Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, and Kemba Walker.

While this may not be the news impatient Knicks fans want to hear, it doesn’t mean that this offseason will be a complete waste.

This will be a great opportunity for the team to acquire low-risk, bargain players who can help David Fizdale and the rest of the coaching staff in their first season with this young team.

Here are some players who can be great targets for the team to go after.

At 6’8″ and 230 pounds, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute can be a great veteran pickup who can anchor the defense at both forward positions. He also has a solid shooting clip at 48.1 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from beyond the three-point line.

If he chooses to leave the Houston Rockets, he should be highly coveted by the Knicks, which are in desperate need of adding valuable 3-and-D wings to the roster.

Although Nerlens Noel has struggled to get a strong footing in the NBA, the 6’11” center is still only 24 years old and can be signed at a discount. He still flashes rim-protecting potential and can be a defensive anchor for the second unit.

Noel can also be someone who adds much-needed athleticism to the frontcourt.

Jeff Green has revitalized his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers and has made his presence known during the postseason. Most notable was his 19-point performance against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

He’s shown that he can be a key offensive contributor off the bench, as well as in certain starting situations. If he can be had at a contract similar to his current deal (one year, $2.3 million), the Knicks should not hesitate to go after him.

At 5.0 win shares and a solid 15.5 PER, Ed Davis had a real positive impact on the Portland Trail Blazers when he was on the court. He’s a relentless rebounder who can defend multiple positions in the frontcourt.

Throughout the season, Damian Lillard gave Davis resounding praise as a mentor in the locker room, as well. He can be a great commodity for the Knicks’ roster, especially if Kyle O’Quinn decides to walk.

Michael Beasley‘s impact on the Knicks should not go overlooked. He was a surprisingly consistent scoring threat off the bench who even showed flashes of greatness when the injuries started piling up during the season.

Although the price may be steeper than it was during the last offseason, Knicks fans would certainly love bringing B-Easy back to the Big Apple.

Must Read: Sleepers to consider in the 2018 NBA Draft

The question is: Will the New York Knicks actually score meetings with free agents in 2018?