A number of teams were planning on targeting Kevin Love in free agency 2015. Teams will little financial freedom this offseason, were planning on making the Minnesota Timberwolves forward their number one priority. However, all of that changed when the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled the rug out from everyone and successful made a trade for Love to go with their recent signing of LeBron James. The New York Knicks were one of the many teams prepping to chase the forward and are now left to create a Plan B next summer.
Phil Jackson understood that this year the main priority was re-signing Carmelo Anthony to a contract. That would essentially max out of the team's financial freedom. However, 2015 is a different story with several large contracts coming off the books. With Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani gone, Jackson planned on concentrating his efforts on signing Love. However, that is no longer an option, complicating things for New York.
Yahoo! Sports is reporting that not only will Cleveland get Love this offseason, but they are also getting a guaranteed nod that he will re-sign in free agency for a max contract. Now Jackson must build a team that can compete with a roster that has James, Love and point guard Kyrie Irving. Just having Anthony is simply not enough. According to ESPN, the Knicks will have $18 million to spend next summer. That is enough to land them at least one max contract player. So who does the team chase?
The Knicks have been linked to center Marc Gasol who is one of the best free agents entering the market next season. His size will certainly make up for the loss for players like Stoudemire and Bargnani. LaMarcus Aldridge will also be a priority for the Knicks. The power forward has been coy about the idea of re-signing with the Portland Trail Blazers and with Love gone, he is the best available at the position. Aldridge wants a max contract and the Knicks will be able to afford the price tag. Kenneth Faried will also be an option. The Denver Nuggets power forward will be a restricted free agent next summer, complicating things since Denver does not intend to let him go meaning New York will have to outbid for him.
Jackson is stressing patience. The team president has the bigger picture in mind, but with Love off the market things get more complicated and Jackson will have to keep his options open to improve the team for the long haul.