The New York Knicks are finally getting it. After years of screwing up the roster and over-loading the team with over-priced players, Isiah Thomas was finally released of duties as the team's general manager (GM) and head coach. A year ago the Knicks had the highest payroll in the NBA. This past season they had managed to cut their payroll down so that they had only the second largest payroll.
With Donnie Walsh recently hired as the team's new GM and Mike D'Antoni the new head coach, things ought to look much different than before for the Knicks. Many believe D'Antoni may be an overrated coach, having never won a title with the talented Phoenix Suns and being able to claim a meager 4-13 record in the last three seasons when the Suns were without Steve Nash. Still, he will bring a new excitement for a team that's been in desperate need of it. D'Antoni prefers the run-and-gun style offense and Walsh may look to adjust the roster to accommodate that style. That means that post players Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph could be traded over the summer in favor of perimeter players.
New York has loads of talent, but will need more than talent to improve upon their 23-59 season in 2007-2008, which was second worst in the Eastern Conference.
Free Agent Watch
Don't expect the Knicks to spend a lot of extra money. They've been down that road and it did little for them. They'll be looking to be rid of large contracts and won't want to take on extra salaries.
2008 NBA Draft
The Knicks have numerous options with the sixth overall pick of the draft. Many believe they could opt for Italien Forward Danilo Gallinari, who some say may be a better pro prospect than former number one overall pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Gallinari is 6-10 and lean, but extremely versatile and has a high basketball IQ. He's not extremely quick, but his basketball skill is unquestioned. Coach D'Antoni actually played with his father back in Italy, so the ties are there. However, there is a rumor that D'Antoni wasn't impressed with Gallinari when he scouted him with Phoenix.
The Knicks would love it if combo guard O.J. Mayo slipped to the sixth pick. Mayo has star potential, but will have to learn to do more than just score. Also, his off court issues leave many questioning his character.
Other players who have been mentioned in regards to the Knicks sixth overall pick are Point Guard D.J. Augustin and SG Eric Gordon.
Trade Opportunities
D'Antoni has already talked about trying to get Forward Boris Diaw and Guard Leandro Barbosa from the Phoenix Suns in a package that would include Stephon Marbury. He wasn't impressed with Marbury when he played for Phoenix and he's hoping that Marbury's $22 million that comes off the books after next season might be enticing to other teams.
Randolph and Curry may also be heavily shopped around the league, as neither one of them really fit into D'Antoni's system. Malik Rose might also be used as trade bait, since his $7-$8 million contract expires after next season.
New York has a logjam of talented, young forwards who all play a very similar style of game. Renaldo Balkmen, Wilson Chandler and David Lee are all athletic, high energy guys who use their athleticism to make plays. Aside from those three, they also have Jared Jeffries, Randolph and Rose at the forward spots.
The Knicks also need a legitimate point guard. With Marbury out of favor and Nate Robinson not really a true point guard, New York could use a floor general to make D'Antoni's system work.
In all, the Knicks aren't in as bad a shape as some might think. They've finally gotten rid of Isiah Thomas; they do have a lot of young talent; and they'll be getting a lot of additional cap space in the next couple of years. After next season, they'll have about $30 million of extra cap space, unless certain players decide to opt out of their contracts and get picked up by other teams. If that happens, they could have an additional $35 million or so available. In all, by the 2009/2010 season, assuming the Knicks don't make trades or take on additional salaries, they should have as much as $50 million in salary cleared from what they have now.
