Three Offseason Keys For for the Knicks

Now that another Knicks season has come and gone without a title, the question remains: how to fix these Knicks?
Three Offseason Keys For for the Knicks
New York’s offense may not be big enough for both Amar’e Stoudemire (L) and Carmelo Anthony’s shooting prowess. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Dave Martin
5/15/2012
Updated:
5/15/2012
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/StoudemireAnthony109429625.jpg"><img class="wp-image-237255" title="Milwaukee Bucks v New York Knicks" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/StoudemireAnthony109429625-300x450.jpg" alt="Milwaukee Bucks v New York Knicks" width="275" height="413"/></a>
Milwaukee Bucks v New York Knicks

Now that another Knicks season has come and gone without a title, the question remains: how to fix these Knicks?

The good news is that they’re improving, as a whole. Former general manager Donnie Walsh did an incredible job in rescuing them from the salary-cap trap they were in under the previous regime. Now that former interim general manager Glen Grunwald has been given permanent status the Knicks seem like they'll continue in good hands.

Under Grunwald’s watch they’ve made several good moves, including waiving point guard Chauncey Billups under the NBA’s amnesty rule so that they could then sign center Tyson Chandler. Chandler’s infectious energy on defense changed the team’s whole look on that end of the floor (especially when D'Antoni left) and led to him winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Signing Jeremy Lin was another great call by Grunwald. Every NBA team has had a chance to either draft or sign him over the last couple of years but few saw his potential as an above-average point guard that could be an All-Star starter in the near future.

Finally, naming Mike Woodson as interim head coach worked out well, maybe even better than Grunwald had imagined. After D'Antoni resigned following an 18–24 start to the season, Woodson won 18 of 24 regular season games, emphasizing defense first, and then became the first Knicks coach to win a playoff game since 2001.

So the point is, the Knicks look to be in good hands with Grunwald. Now, to the future. What about this offseason and what moves should they do?

1. Don’t wait too long on Phil Jackson.

Mike Woodson did a tremendous job after D'Antoni left. He saw a way to win with defense, as the Knicks just happen to have one of the NBA’s best defensive centers (Tyson Chandler) and guards (Iman Shumpert) in the league.

In addition, he has a good track record. He did a tremendous resurrection job in Atlanta going from 13–69 in his first season in 2005 to 53–29 in 2010, his final season, so his permanent hire would seem a no-brainer if it weren’t for the rumored-possibility of hiring coaching legend Phil Jackson.

Jackson, a former Knick who learned his craft from Knicks’ coaching great Red Holzman, takes a back seat to no one. The 66-year-old’s resume is well-known—11 titles in 19 seasons as head coach—and has no problems with high expectations that come with coaching at Madison Square Garden in New York.

This may be the only job he would come out of retirement for, but there’s no guarantee he would take it.

The Knicks will have to set a cutoff date soon to have either Jackson or Woodson as head coach. If they wait until after the playoffs end it may be too late and both might be out as options.

The rest of the NBA witnessed Woodson’s success and he would probably be near the top of most team’s wish lists of coaches for hire come June, while Jackson’s hire is no certainty at all.

2. Find a taker for Amar'e Stoudemire’s contract.

Stoudemire is one of the game’s best offensive big men. Don’t let this year’s down numbers fool you. He put up 17.5 points (worst since his rookie season) and 7.8 rebounds per contest this season despite a back injury and an unsure role alongside Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler.

If he’s healthy and has room to roam on offense, he looks like he’s still good for 20–23 points and 8–10 rebounds a night.

It’s uncertainty about his role that seems to be the biggest hindrance to making this work for the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony is the biggest talent on the team and the offense runs through him. Unless point guard Jeremy Lin, who is currently unsigned for next year, can come back next year and find a way to include everyone in the offense, much like Steve Nash does with the Suns, it doesn’t make sense to keep Stoudemire.

Trading him and...

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/LinWoodson141349213.jpg"><img class="wp-image-237258" title="Portland Trail Blazers v New York Knicks" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/LinWoodson141349213-300x450.jpg" alt="Portland Trail Blazers v New York Knicks" width="275" height="413"/></a>
Portland Trail Blazers v New York Knicks

Trading him and his salary though (roughly $63 million owed over the next three years) won’t be easy. One possibility could be Chicago, of all teams, who could offer up similarly overpaid forward Carlos Boozer and another lower-paid player, to make the salaries match up.

The trade would work both ways: The Knicks would get a player who’s owed less money over the next three years ($47 million) and looks like he would fit in their offense a little better, but is a little older. Chicago would get more offense at a position (power forward) where they need it and they'd get a slightly younger player (Boozer is 30, Stoudemire 29) as well.

Trades of that magnitude rarely happen, though. Grunwald will have his work cut out for him on this one.

3. Bring back Jeremy Lin.

Re-signing Lin seems to be an obvious choice. Had he not had knee surgery this past spring, the Knicks might have even signed him to an extension during the season.

Lin will be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning his first-year salary can’t exceed the NBA’s minimum salary (somewhere between $5 and $6 million) and the Knicks can match any offers he gets from other teams.

But the Knicks may have interest in a couple of other available star point guards such as Steve Nash or Deron Williams. Each is great, but each comes with a downside.

Nash is now 38, far beyond the expected life of an effective point guard and is not a long-term solution. In addition, he would require much more than the average NBA salary (probably twice as much) if they were to sign him.

Williams, 27, is in his prime but it would require a long-term commitment to sign him and an eight-figure salary to get him on board.

The Knicks have the inside track to the younger, more popular, and less expensive Lin and they should re-sign him.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Dave Martin is a New-York based writer as well as editor. He is the sports editor for the Epoch Times and is a consultant to private writers.
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