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NEW YORK KNICKS: State of the franchise

State of the Franchise

Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): $42.6 million

Background: If you are currently a Knicks fan, you have my condolences. For the past decade and change, owner James Dolan has tried way too hard to instantly build a title contender in New York, and boy has it backfired. From horrible contracts such as SG Allan Houston’s ridiculous $100 million contract extension in 2001 that left New York with zero financial flexibility for the next six years, or C Jerome James’ 5 year/$30 million deal in 2005, and most recently the completely idiotic 5 year/$100 million commitment New York made to PF Amare Stoudemire, whose deal finally expires this year. To hiring terrible General Managers, from Scott Layden to Hall of Fame PG Isiah Thomas, who made horrible moves themselves under their owner. James Dolan has to be considered one of the worst owners of all time, taking a once-powerful and historic franchise in a big city, fresh off an era featuring Hall of Fame C Patrick Ewing, to a middle-of-the-pack team year in and year out, with little hope for the future each year. If there was one particular move to sum up everything Dolan has done to the franchise, it would be the Eddy Curry deal. In 2005, Dolan dealt away Tim Thomas, Jermaine Jackson, and Michael Sweetney, as well as a pair of first-rounders and two second-rounders for Eddy Curry’s disastrous 6 year/$56 million contract. Of course, those two first-rounders turned into superstars PF LaMarcus Aldridge and C Joakim Noah. But enough trashing the Knicks (I might be the first person to ever say that). Let’s focus on the good. There is hope for the future, even though their current record, which is the worst in the entire association, might not necessarily indicate it. James Dolan actually hired a smart person to oversee the team, and if you’d like to argue otherwise, Phil Jackson just needs to show you his fingers (and three of his toes) to hush you up. Just look at his two rings as part of the legendary Knicks of the 70s, six more coaching the greatest NBA player to ever live, SG Michael Jordan, and five more further implementing his triangle offense over legendary SG Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, and you can only come to one conclusion: if there’s anybody who can turn the Knicks around, it’s the Zen Master himself.

Current Financial State: As touched on above, the Knicks have the worst record in the NBA this year, which is actually a good thing because they own their first-round pick in this upcoming draft. Next year, the Knicks do not have a pick, and they will also not make a second-round selection until 2019 (thanks, James Dolan). However, this free agency, the Knicks will have a ton of cap space. Last off-season, President Phil Jackson dealt away C Tyson Chandler in a deal that brought a small youth infusion to New York, as the Knicks acquired a couple of second-rounders, one of whom turned into SF Cleanthony Early, as well as PG Jose Calderon from the Dallas Mavericks, among others. However, Calderon came with a bit of a price tag, to the tune of over $22 million over three years still remaining on his deal. Despite the efforts, this season obviously has not gone as planned, so Jackson has gone about completely clearing the books for this offseason. He dealt away SG’s JR Smith and Iman Shumpert in a three-team trade with Cleveland and Oklahoma City, while taking back only small, expiring contracts in return, and others are sure to follow. Now, with a brand new 5 year/$124 million extension, superstar SF/PF Carmelo Anthony represents the only major commitment beyond this season not named Calderon, likely giving Jackson over $40 million at his disposal this offseason, as well as a great first-rounder, in an effort to bring New York back to its title contending status, just like it was when he played there so long ago.  

Targets: This offseason, C Marc Gasol (MEM) figures to be the top available free agent, and he would be a perfect fit in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, which needs a low-post scorer to operate and could also use Gasol’s above-average passing skills for his size. He could cost the Knicks about 4 years/$80 million, but it’s not as if he doesn't deserve every penny of it, or that the Knicks don’t have that kind of money. Prying him from his current team, the Memphis Grizzlies, may be a tough sell with the season the Knicks are currently having, but when has “tough” every stopped Phil Jackson? PG Goran Dragic (PHO) is a free agent this year as well, and would also be an optimal fit in the triangle offense, as he is the perfect man to run the point. With Dragic’s Pheonix Suns already paying over $20 million combined to PG’s Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas (no relation), they’d be hard-pressed to cough up anywhere near what the Knicks can offer for the Slovenian’s services. Of course, the Knicks would have to pay that money, and Dragic isn’t cheap, as he could command up to 4 years/$56 million. However, if signing Dragic and having the cap to do it were to happen, the Knicks would have to get rid of PG Jose Calderon. As touched on above, there is a fire sale going on in New York. Everybody not named Carmelo Anthony is available via trade, as the Knicks look to clear even more cap space for this coming offseason, and the next domino to fall will likely be Calderon, whether or not the Knicks do in fact pursue Dragic. However, there are two issues when trying to find a taker for Calderon: the price tag (3 years/$22.2 million) and his age (33). Either one of these numbers can be a major turn-off for teams, but combine them and you realize that a team would have to pay a 36 year old $7+ million annually, that was a minus defender even in his prime. Still, Calderon is a sweet-shooting point guard who is connecting on 1.5 threes a game this season, and can distribute the rock as well as anybody being paid his money, as evidenced by his 4.6 assists per game this year. However, due to the money, Calderon is still one of those guys that you have to give something to get rid of him, as he just does not play as well as his salary indicates he should. The Houston Rockets are a contender in the market for a point guard that can space the floor as well as distribute the ball to superstars SG James Harden and C Dwight Howard, and Calderon can offer exactly that. The Knicks could give Calderon and their 2017 first rounder (they don’t have very many future draft picks) in exchange for the expiring contract of SG Jason Terry. For Houston, current PG Patrick Beverley and Calderon could battle for the starting job, with the former offering excellent defense and the latter supplying good offense. Another candidate to be dealt is Calderon’s backup, PG Pablo Prigioni. Prigioni is in just his second year in the NBA at 37 years old, but can still shoot from deep, as he's averaging a three per game this year. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in the market for a veteran floor general to backup star PG Kyrie Irving this season, and Prigioni fits the bill. Cleveland still has the lesser of Chicago and Portland’s second round picks for this upcoming draft left over after dealing many draft picks to acquire SG’s J.R Smith and Iman Shumpert, as well as C Timofey Mozgov in a separate deal. Cleveland can convey this pick to New York in exchange for Prigioni’s services. For the Cavaliers, they get exactly what they wanted. Prigioni can run the point in the second unit and space the floor very well, and is a major upgrade over current backup PG Matthew Dellavedova. For the Knicks, Prigioni’s contract runs into next year, and so just getting rid of his $1.5 million would be a plus for them, and getting a late second rounder makes this trade that much better. However, to make the finances of this deal work, Cleveland would have to send the cheap expiring contracts of role players PG Matthew Dellavedova and SF James Jones to New York. There’s a sale going on in New York, and “everything must go.” 

The Fit: PG Matthew Dellavedova and SF James Jones, who would potentially be acquired from Cleveland in the Prigioni deal, would be nothing more than contract fill-ins to make a trade work: they will likely never play in New York again following this season, as would SG Jason Terry, who would be received from Houston in a Calderon trade. Any or all of these players may actually see significant opportunity and playing time with the Knicks this season, which speaks much more to how bad the team currently is than to any of these players’ actual talent. Dellavedova would compete with PG Shane Larkin for minutes at point guard, with Larkin being the only floor general left on the Knicks roster if both Prigioni and Calderon were to be dealt. SF James Jones, once one of the most feared shooters in the league, but he is well past his prime and has really fallen off track this year, averaging less than one three-pointer and just 3.6 points in only 10 minutes per game. He is unlikely to post any better numbers than he has been, even on a depleted Knicks team, as SF’s Quincy Acy, Lance Thomas, and rookie Cleanthony Early are backing up superstar SF/PF Carmelo Anthony, though ‘Melo does play a lot of power forward. SG Jason Terry is also fairly washed up, but is putting together a nice year, averaging 7.5 points and 1.7 triples in 21.5 minutes per contest. He could fight for minutes at the two along with young, emerging players SG Tim Hardaway Jr. and SG Langston Galloway. However, head coach Derek Fisher would be foolish to bench his youngsters in favor of either of these veterans, as the Knicks are currently in the midst of a lost season which they have more interest in losing than winning. None of Dellavedova, Terry, nor Jones figure to have any sort of long-term fit in New York. C Marc Gasol, however, obviously figures to have a long-term role in New York. Named to his first All-Star game as a starter, Gasol has certainly deserved the honor, even in the brutal Western Conference. Averaging 18.6 ppg on 50% shooting from the field as well as 81% from the charity stripe, the younger of the Gasol brothers is capable of being a primary scorer, from the post, pick-and-roll, midrange or wherever he is needed. In addition, Gasol is a defensive anchor, winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013 and averaging 1.7 blocks and 1 steal per game, as well as hauling in over 8 rebounds. Gasol also leads all centers with 4 assists a game, an absolutely critical skill in the triangle offense where ball movement is key. PG Goran Dragic, on the other hand, will run the point for the triangle in New York. A lethal shooter who is averaging 16.5 points and 1.5 threes per game while making half his shots, Dragic is the optimal fit for any triangle offense. Though not as good a distributor as other point guards in the NBA today, Dragic’s 5 dimes per game over the last two seasons are nothing to laugh at; especially when you consider that ball movement doesn't just come from the point guard in the triangle. With Dragic, Carmelo, Gasol, a top-5 selection in the draft and others, Phil Jackson may yet bring a long-awaited title to New York.
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