The short-term outlook for the New York Knicks is bleak. The team sent Amar'e Stoudemire and Pablo Prigioni packing at the trade deadline. They lost Carmelo Anthony for the remainder of the season. There is a risk that Jose Calderon could take the same path. The 2014-15 season is a wash for the franchise. However, next season could be bright with the amount of money the team can spend on free agents. According to Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl, building around Anthony is the key to success.
The Knicks were throttled by the Kings on Tuesday night, but Karl took a moment to speak about his former player. Anthony and Karl certainly had success together with the Denver Nuggets and the head coach believes the Knicks can duplicate that if they build around the forward.
"We had the most success when we had Andre [Miller] and/or Chauncey [Billups] -- when we had a point guard that kind of orchestrated the rhythm of the offense," Karl said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "And I just think, I've said for two years now, I think the NBA is a lot like the NFL. You get a quarterback and a good coach and you win games. And then the other pieces, you figure it out. I think Melo is still top three, top four, top five. I don't know, some people put him in the top three. I personally wouldn't put him in the top three. If he has a good orchestrator, he's going to be a helluva scorer for you."
In Karl's theory, Anthony needs an elite point guard. Calderon was thought to potentially be that option for the Knicks, but his first-year with the team can be chalked up as a failure. He started the season injured, struggled with the triangle offense and is now injured once again. Team president Phil Jackson has never appeared fully invested in Calderon and will be aggressive with trade talks come the offseason.
With Calderon likely out, who does the Knicks target as their elite point guard? Goran Dragic and Reggie Jackson have been considered favorites. The Knicks could also target Rajon Rondo who is not expected to return to the Dallas Mavericks or a trade for Brandon Jennings who is currently rehabbing a torn Achilles.
Outside of a point guard, the Knicks have several roster holes to fill. The team is being linked to everyone from Jimmy Butler to Marc Gasol, Greg Monroe and LaMarcus Aldridge. Having at least $25 million in cap space entering free agency before any other moves will get the team linked to top names.
"I think we all know that he's a very bright man. Very basketball-savvy, intelligent," Karl said. "He made the triangle work when no one else has ever made the triangle work. I expect him to come up with a formula. And I'm sure he's analyzing and studying the league -- to what's going to work in the next four or five years. The league has changed. It's getting to be a guard-oriented league a little bit. It's getting to be a 3-point shooting league a little bit."
