The New York Knicks are a mess. That's not exactly news to anybody, but it does make it even more important for Phil Jackson and the front office to make the right moves this offseason. Here are the three most critical moves that New York needs to make this offseason:
1) Trade Carmelo Anthony
This saga just needs to end. The writing has been on the wall for some time, but Anthony will not be back with the Knicks next season despite the fact that he has two more years left on his contract and a no-trade clause. Jackson has said as much, saying that the Knicks haven't been able to win with him and that Anthony "would be better off somewhere else and using his talents somewhere he can win, or chase that championship.”
Carmelo revealed last month that he would be open to leaving the Knicks this offseason, marking the first time he has ever said he was open to other options. However, he still has all of the power with his no-trade clause, meaning he'll only go to a contending team he wants to play for. Right now, it appears those two options are the Los Angeles Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Whatever it takes, New York needs to make that happen. They simply can not be successful next season if this drama is still going on.
2) Draft a point guard, don't re-sign Derrick Rose
Rose enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and while Jackson has said that New York has some interest in bringing him back, they absolutely should not do that. For starters, Rose is going to ask for the type of contract that could handcuff the Knicks' cap situation in future years. They should allow someone else to overpay for Rose, and then use their first round pick (currently projected to be the No. 7 pick) on a point guard.
This class is absolutely loaded with star point guards that can help take the Knicks into the future. Invest in one of them (likely De'Aaron Fox or Dennis Smith Jr.) and watch them grow alongside Kristaps Porzingis.
3) Blake Griffin and Gordon Hayward should be the only high-priced free agent they go after
New York will have a good deal of cap space this offseason - especially if they don't re-sign Rose - but as we saw last year, it's important for them not to waste it. With Joakim Noah's terrible contract on the books for the next three years, they can't afford to have another bad contract.
This free agency class is loaded with top-end stars, but it's not very deep. That means there will be teams overpaying for the likes of Jeff Teague and Serge Ibaka - and the Knicks would be smart not to be one of those teams. Both Blake Griffin and Gordon Hayward are expected to listen to offers from other teams (not the case for Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul), and the Knicks need to be at the table. However, if they don't land either, don't panic and spend frivolously elsewhere to try and make up for it.
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