Steve Nash and 5 Hot Free Agents Who Would Solve the Knicks Woes

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The Knicks have some major problems they need to solve during this offseason if they want to make it past the first round of the playoffs in 2013.  

Unfortunately, they will only be able to address these concerns during free agency, since they don’t have a first-round pick in the upcoming draft.

Rumors are already swirling around numerous players joining the Knicks, most notably Phoenix Suns point guard, Steve Nash. 

Nash has been linked to the Knicks for a few seasons now, as his former coach with the Suns—Mike D'Antoni—was the head coach of the Knicks up until this season.

He's listed here alongside a few other hot free agents who could solve the Knicks' woes next season.

Steve Nash

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The Knicks really lacked a floor general to facilitate the offense during the playoffs.

That is exactly what Steve Nash would bring to the team if he signed with New York.

The biggest impact Nash would have on the Knicks would certainly be with former teammate Amar'e Stoudemire, whose production has declined since parting ways with the former All-Star. 

STAT is a huge advocate of Nash, and had this to say about the potential of teaming up with him once again—“Everyone knows that Steve loves New York and that New York loves Steve. I love Steve. It would be great to have him here next year.”

A starting lineup with three former All-Stars plus a Defensive Player of the Year—Nash, Carmelo Anthony, STAT and Tyson Chandler—would certainly be one that no team wants to go up against.  

Nick Young

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The Knicks have two shooting guards that they may lose this offseason, J.R. Smith and Landry Fields. Smith is currently under contract for next year, but has a player option in his deal that would allow him to get out of it if he wanted. Fields will be a restricted free agent.

If either or both of these players sign elsewhere, Nick Young would be a great fit to replace them.  

His preference will probably be to stay in Los Angeles with the Clippers since that is where he is from, but you never know since his minutes and points did decrease drastically after the trade.

Expect Young to fit right into the starting shooting guard role if he joins the Knicks.  

Marcus Camby

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The Knicks desperately need some help at the center position. 

Besides Tyson Chandler, the Knicks' other centers, Dan Gadzuric and Jerome Jordan, combined for just over 100 minutes total on the year. That is a joke considering that Chandler played over 2,000 minutes this season. 

Marcus Camby would be a great center to backup Chandler since they play a very similar style. Neither is great on offense, but both hustle for every rebound and block a lot of shots.  

Camby has recently stated that he would like to remain in Houston, but knows he will have many suitors, including the Knicks, once free agency begins.  

Carl Landry

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The Knicks really lack a big man who is down to do the dirty work under the basket. Jared Jeffries sometimes plays that way, but was hurt too often for the Knicks to really rely on him next season.  

Carl Landry was also hurt this season, missing 25 games, but still managed to average double figures in only 24 minutes per game. Since he has been so injury prone as of late, the Knicks may be able to grab Landry cheaply to backup Stoudemire.

Having a power forward duo of STAT and Carl Landry would be great because they could use Stoudemire when they need offense and Landry when they need defense. 

Lamar Odom

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Rumors came out yesterday that Lamar Odom would like to join the Knicks after his disaster of a season with the Mavericks this year.  

A source close to Odom recently released a statement saying:

Lamar is big on being comfortable. And New York is somewhere he can be comfortable. He wants to find a place where he can end his career, and New York is ideal. He's won championships in the past and he wants to win another. And to do it there would be great.

The Knicks need a reserve big man who can come in for Stoudemire and score the ball, as Chandler doesn't score much at all. Odom would also add a lot of playoff experience to a team that has been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in each of the last two seasons.  

Jeremy Lin

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Jeremy Lin is a restricted free agent and the Knicks need to bring him back at all costs. 

He showed glimpses of greatness in his 35 games with the Knicks last season, but missed the final 17 games and the playoffs with a knee injury.

If he goes through a full training camp and then plays an entire season with the team, they must improve greatly from the seven-seed they earned this year.

Lin will certainly draw interest from many other teams as a free agent, but it is expected that the Knicks will match any offer for him.

Hopefully Lin understands this and doesn't force the Knicks to match a huge offer for him, so the team can go out and sign another important free agent as well.