We're a full week into the 2015 NBA free agency period, which means it's time to step back and assess where the New York Knicks have gone so far and where they're headed as the days go on. Here's our Knicks Free Agency Rumors Roundup: What We've Learned.
No Fireworks, But A Logical Start
"Looking back on his measured, deliberate rebuilding of the team over the past few weeks, the Zen Master (Phil Jackson) calls to mind not a disinterested codger, but another famous New York City boss: Goodfellas' Paulie Cicero, who "might've moved slow, but it was only because [he] didn't have to move for anybody,"' Vice Sports' Joseph Flynn wrote in a recent article. "Once he finally got around to building the team he'd so thoroughly demolished, Jackson somehow got fans buzzing over strange old-man terms like "patience" and "financial prudence."
The additions of pieces such as former Blazers big man Robin Lopez and swingman Arron Afflalo may not qualify as sexy per se, but the long-term gambit that Phil Jackson and the front office has thrown down is reason enough for major optimism for those used to the James Dolan "throw darts wearing a blindfold" method.
Knicks Running Out Of Money To Spend In Free Agency?
The Knicks reportedly offered center Jason Smith their $2.8 million room exception to remain in New York, but the eight-year veteran decided to latch on to a more lucrative one-year, $4.5 million sheet with the Orlando Magic.
“The Knicks made a great attempt to try to keep him,’’ agent Mark Bartlestein told the New York Post. Bartlestein added that Smith was appreciative to the Knicks training staff for keeping him healthy for all 82 games of a season for the first time in his NBA career, but the Knicks' lack of flexibility cash-wise and an offer over 1 1/2 times that of New York's ultimately proved the difference.
Jose Calderon, Trade Chip?
You may have heard that the Knicks were engaged with the Warriors on trade talks centered around former New York forward David Lee prior to him being sent to the Celtics on Tuesday.
What hasn't been common knowledge until now is that guard Jose Calderon would likely have been the centerpiece of such a deal if New York hadn't balked, per sources close to the negotiations cited by Keith Schlosser of theKnicksBlog.
Calderon has been on and off the block for what seems like forever now, so the Knicks' decision to protect Calderon in trade talks with Golden State -- if that was indeed the case -- is interesting to say the least.
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