The NY Knicks are happy having back Carmelo Anthony this season after signing him as a free agent and now in the future, names like Greg Monroe, Kenneth Faried, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard or Ricky Rubio could be targets as restricted free agents, as the team is looking to make trades this year and names like Amar'e Stoudemire, Iman Shumpert, Pablo Prigioni and JR Smith are potential names that could move.
According to ESPN.com, the Knicks have looked at trading Prigioni, Shumpert or Smith this offseason and the team also made an offer to the Timberwolves with Stoudemire and Tim Hardaway Jr. for Kevin Love. Phil Jackson knew that deal would not be accepted, but the team has been willing to look at moves and try some trades to help fix up the roster and they did that already with the Tyson Chandler and Wayne Ellington deals.
Pro Basketball Talk put together a list of restricted free agents next year and there are some names that the Knicks could go for after bringing back Anthony. The team will have more cap space next year to spend and having Stoudemire off the books will help as well. The NY Post reports that the team may go after Marc Gasol as a free agent, while RFAs like Kenneth Faried, Klay Thompson, Ricky Rubio, Kawhi Leonard and Tobias Harris all could be options.
Faried is a player that the Knicks have liked for a long time and depending on how things go with the Nuggets, the team could take a look. Monroe is an RFA this year and will be an unrestricted free agent next season and that could be a potential option for the Knicks as well. Thompson is an RFA next year and he likely will be back with the Warriors, but there is a chance someone else could give him a deal. Rubio is looking for a max deal as well and he could be a target for the Knicks.
GM Steve Mills has said that the team is now more versatile and flexible roster wise after moving Jeremy Tyler, Ellington and Chandler along with Felton and now they have Jose Calderon and Travis Outlaw as solid pieces. Carmelo Anthony needed some support behind him and that is why the team traded Tyler, as they already had enough seven footers to get by and needed more at Anthony's forward position to ensure that he gets the rest he needs and that someone solid can take those minutes.
The Knicks signed Cleanthony Early after drafting him and he is a player that can help backup Carmelo Anthony, while the deal with Wayne Ellington and Travis Outlaw also will help that. Outlaw averaged 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds last season for the Kings and he could be a solid addition to the bench this year. The Knicks have a five year plan with Phil Jackson, Carmelo and Derek Fisher and now they have the chance to make moves next summer.
