Knicks Free Agency: Who Comes, Who Goes
The New York Knicks are approaching what we hope is a much more successful free agency than last season. Last year we went for the big names without really considering our options or decision criteria, and we saw how that turned out. It’s up to the coaches to make it known what personnel is needed for success on the floor, even if it means making Phil Jackson so mad he talks to the media for the second time in a year. Of the current free agents in a Knicks uniform, those leaving other teams, and the draft, the options for putting together a solid unit are available. Our organization has to be smart enough and good enough at selling the market to pull the trigger.
Our Free Agents — Holiday, Rose
The Knicks only have a few free agents, but there are some names to keep an eye on. Justin Holiday, a very productive rotation player and much needed impact on the second unit, has been visitng New Orleans lately and discussing a future along side his brother who currently plays with the Pelicans. This would be an important re-signing for the Knicks, and Justin Holiday is certainly someone worth going after. You don’t want an unhappy player so if he wants to be with his family you have to let that go, but if he is up in the air, the Knicks need to make some moves and say the right things.
Sasha Vujacic and Ron Baker are both names that I think the Knicks can put on the back burner. Sure Ron Baker is a fan favorite and played with some life towards the end of the year, but he isn’t a future cornerstone of this franchise. Sasha Vujacic doesn’t have the mileage left in the tank to be the productive scorer we need off the bench, and unless he’s playing for free just let him roll on.
This brings us to our most important name in free agency: Derrick Rose. The quick answer is this: it’s a complicated answer. If Derrick Rose won’t settle for anything less than a max contract we have to let him go. It’s just not smart. Ideally, he would like something with at least 3–4 years on it. If he wants more than 1 year, the salary has to be cut down and manageable. Ideal for the Knicks would be a 1 year deal to see if he can prove himself, and then discuss big money and big time deals after that. With that being said, Phil Jackson seems to love Rose and I think he’ll be around for a few years.
The Draft — Fox, Ntilikina, Mason III
Rose is a free agent and an unreliable player at best. We ran Brandon Jennings out of town, and Ron Baker is kind of just a show dog for the fans. Our priority in this draft has to be at the PG and SG positions. If we can re-sign Justin Holiday and Courtney Lee doesn’t demand a trade then we can rest easy knowing we’ll have production at the SG spot even if it isn’t a superstar. It doesn’t look like it will be that easy, though.
PG has to be the biggest priority in this draft. We need someone athletic, with good court direction and solid passing. Whether it is a triangle or pick and roll season, the PG needs to be a true PG even if they’re coming in off the bench or Rose is moved to the SG spot sometimes. The Knicks have people they can move around to play the SF position if Melo ends up being traded to the West Coast, but that may be an influence in the draft when taking a SG.
Take a bigger one, I guess, since we’ve really dented this Melo relationship. I’m thinking the Knicks try to score a De’Aaron Fox if he is available, Frank Ntilikina the international rising star, or Frank Mason III in the first round. These are all extremely ideal picks and there are some other really solid PGs in this draft class, but if any of those names are available they have to pull the trigger.
The Other Free Agents — Gibson, Holiday, Evans
There are a few positions where I think we need some veteran backup, or just some all around assistance. If we can trade Noah at some point and free up cap space we absolutely need to right away. Porzingis is backed up by Kuzminskas who shows some skill, but he is taking a pretty large load of minutes that I think he needs some relief from. Taj Gibson will be a free agent, and with OKC most likely getting swept by Houston, I’m sure he’s ready to return to a large market. The Knicks could go after him to come in for Porzingis and allow the Unicorn to play the PF or C position.
The counterpart to Justin Holiday leaving for New Orleans is the Knicks solving their PG dilemma with a signing of Jrue Holiday during the offseason. Depending on whether or not Demarcus Cousins leaves New Orleans, Jrue may not see a future with the franchise and the window to play with his brother is always getting smaller. The Knicks could boost the morale of a current producer and add a lot of talent to the offense with a signing like Jrue Holiday.
If Melo is going to be traded, which is an unfortunate possibility, the Knicks will have to come through on a SF in free agency that helps fill the production void Melo will leave us with. Tyreke Evans is a name that jumps out as someone who might integrate well into the organization, and could put up numbers that help us stay afloat. I don’t know if he would be nearly as productive on offense, but a little shooting and defensive assistance couldn’t hurt.
