NBA Free Agents: Who the Knicks Must Go After

With only nine players currently under contract and nearly $50 million committed to Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, the New York Knicks could have their options limited during free agency.

Inconsistency in the backcourt and poor team chemistry have this team facing issues.

Next season poses a lot of questions: Who will start for the Knicks on opening night? Will the magic of Linsanity return to the Garden? Will Stoudemire and/or Anthony be moved in the near future?

If the Knicks want to make noise in the Eastern Conference next season, they will have to get better in a hurry.

Here are the nine free agents the Knicks must go after this summer.

Kirk Hinrich (UFA)

A wily veteran, guard Kirk Hinrich could be the stability the Knicks need in the backcourt next season.

Hinrich is a sharp shooter with the court vision to distribute the ball at an efficient rate. A decent defender, Hinrich brings a lot to the table.

The Kansas product would provide veteran leadership and fit in well in coach Mike Woodson's rotation. He can penetrate the lane and does not hesitate to take the open jump shot.

His best asset might be between the ears however. Hinrich knows his role on a team and could flourish without the ball while playing alongside such prolific scorers like Stoudemire and Anthony.

Ray Allen (UFA)

Pure shooter Ray Allen will be looking to win another ring heading into the twilight years of his NBA career.

Currently being courted by at least the Celtics, the Heat and the Grizzlies, Allen has a list of suitors that are prepared to give him alluring offers.

While the prospects of taking his talents to South Beach might outweigh the intrigue of taking his sweet stroke to Manhattan, the Knicks do offer a compelling environment for Allen to play out the rest of his career.

He would instantly add some championship mettle and a winning pedigree to the much maligned Knicks.

Allen is an efficient scorer that does not demand the ball. Arguably the best off the ball player since Reggie Miller, Allen could run off screens all day for open shots while allowing Stoudemire and Anthony to dominate the rock.

Goran Dragic (UFA)

Coming off a stellar year in which he averaged 11.7 PPG and 5.3 APG, Rockets guard Goran Dragic will be looking for a big payday this summer.

Dragic has a solid skill set.

He can shoot the ball well, get to the basket and serve as a team's primary point guard.

After playing behind Steve Nash for all those years in Phoenix, Dragic came to his own playing in Houston.

The Slovenian would be a beast for the Knicks in transition, running alongside Toney Douglas and Tyson Chandler for easy baskets in the open floor.

Marco Belinelli (UFA)

The Hornets' Marco Belinelli could play a similar role that Danilo Gallinari once played for the Knicks.

Belinelli can shoot from anywhere on the court and has the vision to distribute the ball in the halfcourt or in transition. 

On a woeful Hornets team last season, Belinelli put up 11.8 PPG while draining 37.7 percent of his three pointers.

Better playing with the second unit, Belinelli could be a refreshing spurt off of the bench for the Knicks next season.

Landry Fields (RFA)

Landry Fields was one of the consistent bright spots for the Knicks last year.

Fields does not do anything specifically amazing, but is consistent in most elements of the game.

He is a steady shooter, a good defender and takes care of the ball. When Iman Shumpert was out of the game, Fields did a nice job stepping in and matching up with the opposing team's best wing player.

Re-signing Fields should be a priority for the Knicks, as keeping him would add a nice component of consistency to a suspect front office.

Jeremy Lin (RFA)

The height of Linsanity proved to be one of the Knicks' best stretches last season.

Jeremy Lin excels in the pick-and-roll and is clever in getting to the basket. If Lin can come close to duplicating his best performances of last season, the Knicks could sport an offensive juggernaut with Lin at the helm.

His intangibles were off the charts last season.

Without Anthony or Stoudemire in the lineup, Lin dethroned the visiting Lakers by putting up 38 points and seven assists in a 92-85 victory at the Garden.

A few nights later, Lin had the confidence to take and drain the game winning three pointer in a 90-87 win at Toronto.

Lin's play raised morale for a Knicks team that was down in the dumps. Bringing him back next season needs to be a top priority for the front office this summer.

Aaron Brooks (RFA)

With Steve Nash's future up in the air and newly drafted point guard Kendall Marshall heading to the Valley of the Sun, free agent Aaron Brooks has flown under the radar this summer.

At only 27, Brooks is still young enough for a team to take a chance on him. 

He is a quick guard that makes hustle plays on both sides of the ball. A relentless competitor, Brooks would add a scrappy edge to the Knicks. 

Steve Nash (UFA)

The two time MVP Steve Nash might find himself leaving Phoenix soon.

With a heavy list of suitors, Nash is expected to be fielding offers from the Nets, the Raptors, the Mavericks and the Knicks this offseason.

While Dallas gives him the chance to win now, and Toronto gives him the chance to return home to his native Canada, playing for the Knicks might provide him with the most excitement.

Already a basketball icon, Nash could flourish in the mecca of media markets that is Manhattan.

He has already found success playing alongside Stoudemire and could turn this Knicks team into a reincarnation of the high-scoring Suns teams from around 2005.

Reuniting with Stoudemire and playing with Anthony is a scintillating opportunity for Nash, as he could quarterback one of the most compelling teams in the NBA next season.

Boris Diaw (UFA)

Forward Boris Diaw can add a lot of versatility to a predictable Knicks offense. 

Diaw has a high basketball IQ and can do a little bit of everything.

Whether he plays in the high-post or the low-post, Diaw has the savvy to create his own shot. He shares the ball well and is known for his interior passing skills.

He is best when he is not a primary option. With Stoudemire and Anthony, Diaw could find his groove by being the unselfish big man on the court.

On a team that badly needs distributors, Diaw's European game could be a perfect fit in New York.