The New York Knicks want point guard help. The issue is that they also want to spend money on a point guard next offseason. That puts the team in a tough spot as they are eyeing several trade deals while still wanting to be smart in terms of their finances. With just under two months until the trade deadline, the Knicks have options and Carmelo Anthony might want Phil Jackson to start making some moves.
Anthony is not happy with the lack of help he is getting. The franchise star lacks a consistent No.2 to help take some weight off his shoulders. On some nights Kristaps Porzingis is that player. Sometimes Arron Afflalo steps up while Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant have been struggling on the court. That is not making Anthony's job easier while he tries to remain positive about the current situation.
"I don't believe so," Anthony said, via the New York Post. "But a person, a player like me, my mindset, if I see other guys that can't get it done or make it happen then I'm going to try to make it happen."
It is no secret that Anthony needs scoring help. With the point guard position being the main area of focus, the Knicks are expected to be active in the trade market for help. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Knicks are interested in several point guards, but will not commit to anyone with a contract extending past this season. According to Isola, Jackson will make Mike Conley Jr and potentially Rajon Rondo priorities in the offseason meaning anyone acquired in a trade will not be hanging around past the season.
The Knicks do have options. Marc Berman of the New York Post is confident the Knicks are contenders for a trade of Brandon Jennings. The only issue is that right now the Detroit Pistons have no plans on making Jennings available. The point guard has returned to the court following an Achilles injury and he could help the Pistons get back into the swing of things in the Eastern Conference. He does have an expiring contract and with Reggie Jackson locked down for the future, there might not be room for Jennings in Detroit past this year which would make a trade ideal.
Jamal Crawford and Ty Lawson are two other ideal options. They are on expiring contracts assigned to teams struggling at the moment. If the Knicks make players like Derrick Williams or Kyle O'Quinn available in a deal, they could land one of the two options. Ian Begley of ESPN.com is also reporting that Jimmer Fredette is also being looked at as an option. He has been playing in the Knicks' D-League team after getting acquired and is averaging 23 points per game. Jackson is reportedly a fan of Fredette which could play a big part in whether he gets called up or not.
