Ugh! This team is a mess, but they are cleaning out the roster this summer and next in an effort to load up on free agents next summer.
With so many roster spots open, who are they going to fill them with?
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2009 Free Agents
- David Lee (Restricted)
- Nate Robinson (Restricted)
- Eddy Curry (Early Termination Option - Unrestricted)
- Quentin Richardson (Early Termination Option - Unrestricted)
- Al Harrington (Player Option - Unrestricted)
- Chris Wilcox
I have to assume New York is going to re-sign either David Lee or Nate Robinson this summer, but I don't think they will sign both. If Curry, Richardson, and Harrington leave, then this team is hurting up front for sure. Again, since I don't know what the team will do, I am just going to assume these players are all gone for now.
Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)
PG: Chris Duhon - Larry Hughes
SG: Larry Hughes - Joe Crawford
SF: Wilson Chandler - Danilo Gallinari
PF: Jared Jeffries - Chris Hunter
C: Courtney Sims - Mouhamed Sene
Draft Picks (Mock Picks)
- 8th overall - Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Memphis - I see Evans as the fit here, because Mike D'Antoni loves to run and Evans can play both guard positions in this offense. He isn't a spectacular shooter, but he can get to the basket and will hit a decent amount of mid-range shots. With Evans and Wilson Chander on the wings, this team becomes very explosive.
Depth Chart (Post-Draft)
PG: Chris Duhon - Larry Hughes - Tyreke Evans
SG: Larry Hughes - Tyreke Evans - Joe Crawford
SF: Wilson Chander - Danilo Gallinari - Larry Hughes
PF: Jared Jeffries - Danilo Gallinari - Chris Hunter
C: Courtney Sims - Mouhamed Sene
Players on Trade Block
- Larry Hughes
- Jared Jeffries
Hughes will be a free agent at the end of this next season and Jeffries has an Early Termination Option next summer, so these two players could bring in some interest with their expiring contracts. Other than that, if the Knicks don't sign any of their own free agents, it is all youngsters and Chris Duhon on the roster, which means, they are probably staying put.
Final Analysis
It is all about the summer of 2010 for this franchise. If they can hold off until then and make a big splash in free agency, then this team could be back on the path to their once storied greatness. Another thing to keep an eye on this season is where they end up in the lottery for next year's draft. With the 8th pick here and another possible top 10 pick next year, on top of having their wallets open come free agency, they could be the favorites to win it all in 2011. It's crazy, but I'm just saying.
Comments
I don't see why they would move up to take Rubio, when they dumped a lot of money into Duhon. But, he is a foreign player and Mikey D loves him some foreigners for some reason.
I'm not sure about the restricted players. I was trying to look that up and I've come up with a lot of explanations of trades and free agency, but nothing definitive. I was trying to think back if any recent players were traded under those conditions and came up with a blank spot.
I want to say yes, because the original team can sign the player to a bigger contract than the new team. So, David Lee could sign a nice deal and then be dealt to Memphis for who knows what.
on your final analysis i beleive the knicks lost there #1 draft pick for 2010 in the starberry trade. can you check that out. thanks,mb
Ah yes, they do owe that pick to Phoenix, who sent it to Utah. So the Jazz own the Knicks 2010 1st round draft pick.
Nice catch on that. I stand corrected!
Which big name free agent do you SERIOUSLY think will end up on the Knicks come 2011/
could not aggree more. great post going to dig around and see what other stuff you have. Very Nice Blog!
What would it take for them to move up and take Rubio? Are the restricted players allowed to do sign and trades?