Knicks Trade Rumors: Mike Woodson Wise to Move Forward with Current Roster
The New York Knicks are legitimate NBA title contenders for the first time in a while, and head coach Mike Woodson wisely understands that.
ESPNNewYork.com's Jared Zwerling reports that a source familiar with the team believes that the Knicks' head coach is content to chase a ring with the crew he has:
"...according to the same source, the Knicks—specifically Mike Woodson—are not rushing to bring in a new face. "Woody doesn't want to add anyone," the source said. "He was buying more time for Sheed. The Knicks are letting him do it his way."
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It's not surprising that New York's front office would hand over the keys to the roster to Woodson. He's led the Knicks to an impressive 31-16 start to the season (second in the Eastern Conference), including an 8-3 mark over their last 11 games.
Perhaps the most important factor, though, is that Woodson's Knicks are 2-0 against the defending champion Miami Heat this season. Both wins came in blowout fashion, by 20 points each.
Yes, it's only the regular season, but why would Woodson want to tinker with a unit that has fared so well against the championship favorite?
In the case of the 2012-13 Knicks, there's an old adage that stands out above all others: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Sure, New York has weaknesses like all other NBA teams. However, the Knicks also have strengths. In addition to boasting multiple stars, they possess lethal outside shooting as well as solid team defense, thanks to Woodson's presence on the bench.
The Knicks rank eighth in the league in scoring offense (100.9 PPG) and defense (95.7 PPG) this season. Plus, they boast a 28.5-point-per-game scorer in Carmelo Anthony, a superstar capable of challenging LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the brightest of basketball stages.
In addition to risking a setback, acquiring a piece before the Feb. 21 trade deadline would mean giving up another.
There's no guarantee that New York would improve by shaking things up, either. Instead, the surging Knicks would be messing with a good thing if they made a move in the coming weeks, and Mike Woodson seems to know that better than anyone.
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