The NY Knicks are coming into the 2014-15 season with high expectations after signing back Carmelo Anthony and now Phil Jackson is in charge and he may look at trade deals with names like Amar'e Stoudemire, Iman Shumpert, JR Smith or Andrea Bargnani to try and upgrade the talent on the team and New York also may look at players like Rajon Rondo, Greg Monroe or Marc Gasol in 2015 free agency next summer.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Knicks may try and trade Amar'e Stoudemire at some point this season, but making a deal will be tough with his contract. The deal is expiring and the Sixers have the most cap space in the league and that could be an option when the deadline gets closer. Stoudemire actually was pretty productive last season based on his minutes, putting up 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds
According to the NY Post, the Knicks are planning to target Marc Gasol next summer in free agency and that comes after the team went after his brother this year as a free agent before he signed with the Bulls. The Knicks feel they have depth up front and that is why they traded Jeremy Tyler, as they now have Samuel Dalembert and Jason Smith to handle things under the basket. The team acquired Travis Outlaw and now he can be a backup to Anthony along with Cleanthony Early, who was a second round draft pick.
Last season the team won just 37 games and while they are not expected to compete for a championship this year, Anthony feels that the playoffs are a certainty in the eastern conference. The Knicks opened 3-13 last year and they likely will not suffer the same tough beginning and if they can avoid that, the postseason should be a manageable goa. The conference has a number of very strong teams, including the Cavaliers with LeBron James and Kevin Love as well as the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.
Jackson is willing to make moves and he has already traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton this offseason and more could be on the way. The Knicks won just 37 games last season and now they have the chance to bounce back big and while they may not go all the way, the roster is already better than it was last season. Everyone is wondering how Derek Fisher will do and whether Melo can adapt to the triangle, but right now the Knicks should feel good about where they are and the direction of the franchise. Jackson, Anthony and Fisher are all on five year deal and that means they have the chance to truly build in NY for the first time in years.
