The Knicks After London

Having wished Amare Stoudamire farewell in our last post, let's get real about what the Knicks will need to do going forward.

It's a New Dawn!

This is a time unlike any other in recent Knicks history and it is unique because of the constraints the NBA imposes on rebuilding teams.  Announcers like Reggie Miller don't get it.  Miller mocks the idea that the Knicks should 'tank' and points to recent lottery history that indicates that the teams with the most losses don't necessarily get the first dibs at the most highly rated talent.  The argument is specious in that the process of tanking is about getting a maximum amount of lottery balls that improve your chances to win. And every lottery is different and every ball matters, like it or not - wherever one places in the final draw.  Criticizing the Knicks mercilessly for doing the obvious is just bad journalism.

Secondly, prior to NY and the Lakers contending for lottery position, these commentators cried not a tear when NBA teams tanked for sheer profit.  The Knicks have nothing to apologize for.

So Phil Jackson has indicated that fans and media need not act surprised at whatever moves come next.

A Rebuilding Strategy

Let's speculate that Carmelo Anthony is not traded and let's speculate looking forward to the lottery and taking this year's team into account. We can project three fairly certain roster spots.

Anthony and most probably the draft pick and Cole Aldrich will occupy three of the roster spots.  The big question going forward is whether or not the Knicks build to win sooner or whether Phil embarks on a full rebuild around that core rather than concern himself about wins.  I think it is obvious from his recent comments that the days of the Knicks trying to bandage a dead horse with yet another star pretending to ride that horse are over.  I fully believe we are in a rebuild mindset that precludes quick fixes.

The speculation that follows is a personal strategy that I think the Knicks may follow before the trade deadline.  And I'm going to stick my neck out to say that while it certainly appears that Phil Jackson is obsessed with clearing salaries for summer cap space I'm going to assume that cap space is an asset that he may be willing to apply to acquiring appropriate, otherwise inaccessible talent before the trading deadline.

Prior to the trading deadline there are some opportunities that the Knicks could pursue based simply on the playoff and cap space karma the the league is immersed in.

One of the positions the Knicks are in dire need of addressing either through the draft or free agency is PG. Three potential candidates may become available in Free agency who are of interest. Reggie Jackson, Goran Dragic, and Cory Joseph.  Dragic and Joseph are unlikely to be traded as they are still valuable assets to their respective teams.  Depending on the Knicks priorities this summer either may get serious attention.

The most intriguing of the three before the trade deadline remains Reggie Jackson. Jackson's role in OKC has become unstabilized since the Waiters acquisition.  Playing time has dwindled and his relative importance to the team has diminished. Unsurprisingly, he's in a funk and indications are that he would welcome joining the Knicks next season.  Is there a potential trade?

OKC could use a hardening of their bench and cap relief wouldn't hurt either.  And because Jackson will be becoming a free agent, competition to acquire him will be constrained.  All of this works in favor of the Knicks.

Reggie Jackson?

Would Prigioni, Acy and Bargnani and the money saved be enough to acquire Reggie Jackson and Perkins?  Assuming OKC acquires Brook Lopez, Perkins becomes expendable because of Steven Adams and Prigioni . OKC can cut Bargnani and add Acy as a SF backup.  Prigioni may be the wily vet they need off the bench.

Aaron Afflalo?

Afflalo is having a very bad year and Denver is cutting bait on their players.  While the SG position is not the highest priority, Afflalo is one of the players that Anthony seems to have a professional high regard for. A trade that could work would involve Bargnani for Afflalo and Denver's late second round pick.  Here, NY eats Afflalo's contract for next year which dampens the cap space available  this summer.

Calderon for Jason Terry?

A Calderon for Jason Terry and the return of our second round pick is a popular rumor.  IMO, it could happen. Calderon gives Houston a much stronger second option of the bench.