The Most Important Free Agent For the New York Knicks to Land This Offseason
Marc Gasol or LaMarcus Aldridge would be nice, but the New York Knicks don't necessarily need to sign a marquee free agent with a big name spoken in giddy girlish squeals.
The Knicks brass will be courting free agents young enough to build a future upon, but experienced enough to win now (before Carmelo Anthony's new knee wears out). Someone whose injury history doesn't send insurance companies running and won't put the team in debt for 10 years.
Someone who wants to play in New York and fits the system. Someone who helps the Knicks fix some of their many, many, many weak spots.
And maybe someone with a big butt.
Priority 1: The Right Big Man (or Men)
Last week, Knicks president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills answered some questions about their offseason priorities to a gathering of media and season-ticket holders (in hopes that they stayed season-ticket holders).
During that conversation, per Marc Berman of the New York Post:
"Jackson said big men are a priority in the draft and free agency because Carmelo Anthony is the only big man under contract for next season — and his natural position is small forward.
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New York's frontcourt certainly has weak spots to bolster: rim protection, rebounding and slams, for starters. While the Knicks backcourt also needs a makeover, the draft and free-agent market are flush with big men in 2015.
The hottest prospects out of college of course are Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke's Jahlil Okafor. In addition to Gasol and Aldridge, the free-agent market will proffer the Portland Trail Blazers' center Robin Lopez and the Detroit Pistons' forward-center Greg Monroe.
Monroe could be the Knicks' greatest prize this offseason.
“[The Knicks] need a center with a big butt to hold space," according to former Albany Patroons assistant coach Charley Rosen, in an interview with Berman, who describes Rosen as Phil Jackson's confidant. “They didn’t have anybody like that [this season]. It takes away a major portion of what you can do with the triangle, because then it really becomes just a perimeter offense.’’
It's true. Since Tyson Chandler left, the Knicks don't have anybody setting those nasty just-ran-into-a-brick-wall picks or providing any major threat at the rim. Cole Aldrich and Lou Amundson make admirable efforts, but New York needs another big man there.
Rosen suggests that Monroe, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, could be the man for the job.
"“He can score down there,’’ Rosen said. “He’s big, can hold his ground in the post, is left-handed, which holds an advantage to do unexpected things. He can establish position, has good hands and he’s a pretty good passer. He’d be a great fit.’’
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Monroe's not flashy. He grinds out 16 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in a relentless workhorse sort of way. He also averages 2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks per game, playing at the 4 spot alongside center Andre Drummond.
Monroe is not a stretch-4 like Bargnani. There is absolutely zero chance of him chucking up jumpers from behind the arc, which should really be a relief for fans. He would give the team that power up front they lack.
Consider the happy possibility that the Knicks draft Kentucky power forward Karl-Anthony Towns (who Rosen says does not have the size to play center in the NBA). Monroe could play the 5 spot beside Towns at the 4.
If the Knicks instead go for Duke's more old-school center, Jahlil Okafor, Monroe could play at the 4. Either way, it's a nice-looking frontcourt, especially when you place Carmelo Anthony at small forward. Yet, the Okafor-Monroe duo does run the risk of being light on defense and a bit too stodgy—those two bodies might clog things up too much.
Robin Lopez would be another great option—playing in lieu of or in addition to Monroe—particularly if the Knicks decide to go for more defense and decide they need less scoring from their big man; and if they can persuade him to leave Portland.
Monroe can help the Knicks regardless of whom they draft and they can afford to pay him near-max money if they have to. Right now he makes $5.48 million for Detroit.
Priority 2: The Right Guard
Monroe might be the most important free agent, but coming in at a close second is Monta Ellis.
For a variety of reasons I outlined last week, the Knicks should be courting the Dallas Mavericks combo guard, who has a player option and could be persuaded to leave the Mavs this offseason. Ellis is thoroughly unappreciated by the Dallas media, which clearly don't deserve him, the team is on the fritz (which may or may not be related to the addition of Rajan Rondo) and Ellis may be open to a change.
Yes, he's been struggling in February and March, especially from behind the arc, where he's shooting 18 percent since the All-Star break). Yet, he's still one of the league's best clutch performers, top 10 in steals and top 20 in scoring.
He's an explosive, quick player who gets to the hoop and thrives in transition. At age 29, he's seasoned but not ancient—just about the vintage Phil Jackson seems to be looking for.
As Sean Deveney of the Sporting News wrote: "Jackson does not want to build a team around players in their early 30s." Yet, as Jackson himself said during last week's presentation to media and season-ticket holders, per MSG Networks' April 8 broadcast of the event, "We're looking for guys that are veteran players."
Maybe you're disappointed, because you've already carved out a place in your closet for a new blue and orange Gasol jersey. Don't be. If the thought that a huge mega-star might not be in the Knicks' immediate future saddens you, take solace in this little bit of music Mills crooned to long-suffering Knicks fans' ears. From MSG Networks' broadcast:
"Part of what we have to go through is the discipline to not just trade our draft picks away...It's very frustrating for us. Because every GM who calls me, the first thing he wants is a pick. Because the deal is, you call New York, and you get a pick."
If those days are over, then maybe these years of agonizing futility may be behind us soon too.
All stats from NBA.com/stats. Follow Sara Peters on Twitter @3FromThe7.
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