New York Knicks: Trade Rumors, Free Agent News and Draft Buzz

After a second-straight, unbearably quick postseason exit, the New York Knicks are, once again, left to pick up the pieces of a roster in flux.

The goal all along has been to contend for a championship, but New York isn't there just yet.

So, with their "new" coach in hand, the Knicks will take to the streets of free agency, pillage through the barrage of trade rumors and possibly scour the bottom half of the draft in search of talent that will even out their roster.

Their season may be over, but the work starts now. 

Is Jeremy Lin a Lock to Return?

After the season Jeremy Lin had, it's hard to imagine the Knicks letting him walk away.

Ironically enough, that seems to be the stance the organization is taking.

According to Newsday's Al Iannazzone, General Manager Glen Grunwald, among other orange and blue affiliates, do not see Lin signing anywhere else.

That said, Lin's agent has never seemed that optimistic, and, as reported by the New York Post's Marc Berman, he sees the Knicks having to clear a few financial hurdles before anything becomes official. 

Regardless of how either party feels, though, the fact is the Knicks can match any offer that comes Lin's way—and given the surplus of profit he'll generate in ticket sales alone, it's unlikely he will continue his career elsewhere. 

Will J.R. Smith Opt Out?

The Knicks are holding out hope that J.R. Smith will not opt out of the second year of his deal but they might not get so lucky.

Smith is clearly worth more than the $2.5 million he is slated to make next season, hence the New York Post report that states he is leaning toward testing free agency.

Though the volume scorer could undoubtedly snag more cash elsewhere, his highly erratic return to the NBA could prompt him to play toward an even larger payday next year. 

Steve Novak as Good as Gone?

Steve Novak led the NBA in three-point shooting during the regular season and is someone the Knicks would undoubtedly love to see re-sign.

That said, with New York focused on Jeremy Lin, retaining Novak becomes extremely difficult—borderline impossible.

According to Mark Berman of the New York Post, Novak is as good as gone, unless the NBAPA wins their case pertaining to the transfer of a player's Bird rights.

Should the NBA's interpretation of Bird rights be deemed infallible, the Knicks have likely been on the winning side of a discount double-check for the last time.

Could Lamar Odom Be Headed to New York?

Lamar Odom is in dire need of resurrecting his career, a resurrection he reportedly wants to pursue as a member of the Knicks, according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York.

Odom is fresh off the worst season of his career. He averaged just 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game before being exiled from the Mavericks.

Though the odds of a complete revival are stacked against the 32-year-old, he could be a great fit at the right price. Odom is one of the few athletes who can play all five positions and was held in high regard league-wide less than a year ago.

Jeremy Lin or no Jeremy Lin, the Knicks are in need of a point guard to help run the offense, and they now have a potential solution in the form of a 6'10", 230-pound veteran, looking to shed his inner demons.

Is Steve Nash Even an Option Anymore?

Not long after the Knicks were eliminated from the postseason, Amar'e Stoudemire told the New York Daily News that he would welcome the opportunity to play alongside Steve Nash once again.

While Nash has long been considered a solution to the Knicks' offensive woes, ESPN's Jared Zwerling reported that the star facilitator wouldn't want to come to New York.

The news comes as somewhat of a crushing blow. Jeremy Lin is widely considered the point guard of the future, but allowing him the opportunity to study under Nash for a year or two would do wonders for his development.

Despite Zwerling's report, though, it's unlikely we've heard the last of this.

Will the Knicks Reconsider and Take a Chance on Allen Iverson?

Allen Iverson wants to play in the NBA again—and with the Knicks in need of some depth in the backcourt, New York seems like a logical destination.

That said, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks have absolutely no interest in pursuing the former All-Star.

New York could certainly use the ball-handling and scoring of the Iverson of old, but he's two years removed from the Association. (Not to mention his presence could be detrimental to the already fragile Knicks chemistry.)

Don't expect much to transpire on this front moving forward.

Is Dwight Howard Pining for a Move to The Big Apple?

According to Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com, Dwight Howard is finally ready to leave Orlando and the Knicks are on his radar.

The Magic will likely look to move the bloated contract of Hedo Turkoglu if they decide to trade Howard, and New York is one of the few franchises with deep enough pockets to make it happen.

Though a polarizing low post figure like Howard seems too good to pass up, the Knicks would likely have to relinquish two of their three stars, in addition to some youth.

After all of the hoops that have been jumped through to keep Carmelo Anthony happy, it's clear the two stars in question would be Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Mindful of decimating their roster once again, will the Knicks opt to pursue this scenario any further?

Stay tuned.

Will New York Look to Move Amar'e Stoudemire?

For the Knicks to make a legitimate championship push, they must trade Amar'e Stoudemire, according to Ian O'Connor of ESPNNewYork.com. 

After a season that saw Stoudemire post his worst numbers since his rookie year, suffer numerous injuries and engage in hand-to-glass combat with the casing of a fire extinguisher during the playoffs, the forward's value to the organization is continuously being questioned.

Stoudemire would likely be a part of any potential Dwight Howard deal as previously discussed, but New York would be hard-pressed to find a trade partner otherwise.

Not only is he deteriorating athletically, but he has three monster years remaining on his uninsured contract. And in all likelihood, the Knicks would have to take back another bloated contract in return.

For now, New York seems poised to hold onto Stoudemire, but that could all change in the blink of an eye.

Could Christmas Come Early for the Knicks?

Though the Knicks are already expected to retain Jeremy Lin, there is a potential game-changer in the making that could shift the scale in their favor even more.

The NBAPA is challenging the NBA's interpretation of a players' Bird rights, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times.

If the Player's Association comes out victorious, the Knicks would be able to re-sign Lin without dipping into their midlevel exemption. The same would go for Steve Novak.

This would not only ensure the return of both Lin and Novak, but also leave the door open for a potential union with Steve Nash, provided he "changes his mind" about New York.

With a ruling on the matter set to be delivered in June, the Knicks' free-agency fate will soon be determined.

2012 NBA Draft Notes

After drafting a gem in Iman Shumpert last year, the Knicks have no first-round picks to work with this time around.

New York won't be on the clock until late in the second round, where the team has a stronghold on the 48th overall pick of the draft.

Barring the second coming of Landry Fields or a draft day trade that lands them in the first round, the Knicks are unlikely to come away with any immediate impact players.

Nonetheless, though, New York has held workouts for forwards Yancy Gates and Troy Gillenwater, and centers Robert Sacre and Wesley Witherspoon. Guards Dee Bost and J'Covan Brown are also on the radar. 

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