New York Knicks: 10 Changes the Knicks Need to Make to Contend in 2013

The 2011-12 season for the New York Knicks will be a memorable one for a long time to come due to the emergence of Jeremy Lin.

"Linsanity" arrived in the Big Apple near the time the Giants won the Super Bowl and took fans worldwide on a ride they will not soon forget. They won seven straight games starting on February 4th with Lin playing heavy minutes, and then had a five-game winning streak before his season ended due to injury late in March.

New York would lose to Miami in five games in the first round of the playoffs, but the talent of their young point guard has fans brimming with hope for the future.

Here are 10 changes the Knicks need to make to contend in 2013.

Trade Carmelo Anthony by Midseason If Knicks Aren't Contending

Carmelo Anthony is the franchise player, and the team should be winning with him on the squad. However, if the Knicks are struggling by next season's trade deadline, then Melo has to be the one to leave.

This is the worst-case scenario, but the Knicks cannot waste any time with a good, young point guard in Lin and an older Amar'e Stoudemire. They are in a win-now mode and must do anything they can to improve their team.

Establish the Offense Around Jeremy Lin

When Linsanity was at its strongest, the primary scorer and passer was Lin. He was the offense and was its best playmaker. They won at least five in a row twice with him as the starter, and Lin showed the world what a phenomenal talent he was.

If he was active in the playoffs, the Knicks may have beaten Miami in the first round. The Knicks coaches need to get Lin the freedom he had when he first started playing because that is when he was at his best. They may have to accept the scary idea that he might be better for the team than the highly-paid Carmelo Anthony.

Replace Josh Harrellson with a Competent Big Man

Josh Harrellson may turn out to be a fine NBA player one day, but in this situation, he needs to go.

The Knicks need to replace him with a veteran big man who can produce on the court, and Harrellson can be part of a deal to get that player. Harrellson's skills are too raw, and he is a liability when he's on the court. The Knicks need to find people that can be valuable when they are playing because they are in a win-now mode.

Get Amar'e Stoudemire to Be an All-Star Player Again

Amar'e Stoudemire didn't make the All-Star team this season after making it in five consecutive seasons. His point production dropped from 25 points to nearly 18 this season, a drop of nearly 7 points per game.

He needs to find that offensive production again in 2013, where he is expected to be the Knicks' best big man and one of the best in the Eastern Conference. The team needs to find ways to get him his shots as he is high percentage shooter and will hit most of them.

Find Free Agents Committed to Playing Defense

One of the Knicks' biggest weaknesses this past season was their defense. They got particularly exposed in the Heat series where they could not stop Bosh, Wade and LeBron and nearly let them do whatever they wanted.

Their three best players (Melo, Stoudemire and Lin) are not known for playing stellar D, so they will need to rely on role players to get the job done. Having guys known just for their solid D (such as Bruce Bowen or Andre Iguodala) really helps a team and can make a big difference. The Knicks will need to look at the free-agent market this offseason to find help in that area.

Establish Iman Shumpert as the Backup Point Guard

With Baron Davis going down in the Heat series with a potentially career-ending injury, the Knicks will now look to second-year man Iman Shumpert as their primary backup to Jeremy Lin.

Shumpert provides athleticism and speed to compliment Lin and is known for his good dunking and shooting. They have even tried putting Shump' in as a shooting guard at times, and that has worked well. In any case, the second-year star should have a lot to look forward to as he impressed many with his play in 2011-12.

Increase Tyson Chandler's Role in the Offense

Tyson Chandler won the 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award, an accolade he has never received in his 10-year career. He is having a career renaissance of sorts, having won an NBA Championship with the Mavericks last season and now having an individual award in his trophy case.

He averaged 11.2 points per game , the second highest in his career, but can be more effective next season in a high-powered Knicks offense. He was great playing with Lin, scoring on many alley-oops and wide open dunks, and should look for many more of those next season with the full cast coming back healthy. It could be a career year for the former second-overall pick.

Get Steve Novak More Three-Point Shots

Steve Novak became an important player on the Knicks during Linsanity in February. He found a role on the team as the best shooter from long range.

Known best for his pinpoint accuracy from deep, Novak was an NBA journeyman, playing for four different NBA teams before he was traded to the Knicks in 2011. He played a career high in minutes (18.2) and averaged a career high in points (8.8). Novak is a Sam-Perkins-type of player who can hit a three from anywhere beyond the arc and is a fan favorite as well. He could have a career year in 2013.

Have J.R. Smith Playing at a Sixth Man of the Year Level

J.R. Smith found his way to New York this season after being a longtime teammate of Carmelo Anthony during his Denver Nuggets days. Smith was playing in China during the lockout and became a free agent once his contract expired over there. He had immediate success as a Knick, averaging 12 points in 27 minutes per game as a reserve.

If he can stay at this level in 2013, he may finish first in the Sixth Man of the Year race if the Knicks win a lot of games. Smith is a good shooter, has great hustle and provided many highlight plays with his athleticism this past season.

Hire Phil Jackson as Head Coach

Known as the Zen Master, Phil Jackson is one of the most successful and respected head coaches in NBA history.

He has 11 NBA rings as a head coach, including three three-peats (two with the Bulls and one with the Lakers). He has coached some of the best players in NBA history such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

He played for the Knicks and won a championship with them in 1973 (he was injured during their 1970 championship run), so coaching them so many years later would be a match made in heaven for a team with loads of talent that is in need of a great coach.