Ranking the Best Value Free Agents for NY Knicks to Pursue During 2015 Offseason
The New York Knicks may have more than $25 million to spend in free agency, but that doesn't mean they should focus solely on big-name free agents.
While bringing in a superstar would make a world of difference for New York, it will be difficult to pull off regardless of the money, and in any case the team should also have eyes on cheaper second-tier players.
Phil Jackson needs to build a deep roster over the next few years in order to turn the Knicks into a contender, and the best way to do that is through frugal spending on reliable players.
Luckily for the Knicks, the 2015 free-agent class offers plenty of options who are capable of filling major holes in their lineup. Let's go through the top five best value free-agent targets for the Knicks, with a focus on players who could be had for a discount for a variety of reasons.
5. Patrick Beverley
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Though Patrick Beverley won't grab too many headlines in New York, he could quietly prove to be a solid, cap-friendly option for the Knicks at point guard.
He has made a name for himself on the defensive end for his physical play, getting under the skin of his opponents and playing key minutes for the Houston Rockets. Shooting 36 percent from downtown for his career, he's also a proficient enough shooter to spread the floor in the triangle offense.
Coming off his rookie contract, Beverley will be looking for a significant pay raise in free agency, but if he can be had for around $5 million per year, he'd still offer great value. His man defense would go a long way to improving an area that has plagued the Knicks for years.
The key is the price. This isn't the kind of player New York should be breaking the bank for, especially with a fairly similar alternative in the form of Langston Galloway already on the roster. They would make an effective defensive-minded, triangle-friendly backcourt together, but Beverley doesn't supply enough star power to warrant big-time money.
4. Rajon Rondo
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Just a year ago, Rajon Rondo would have been considered a major target for the Knicks—potentially mentioned among the likes of Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge as a borderline pipe dream.
After a terrible half-season with the Dallas Mavericks, however, the idea of signing Rondo is a lot more realistic and could actually be relatively cheap if his market value has dropped as far as his production would suggest.
Of course, the reason that should make Rondo available for a modest price (that being not much more than $10 million) is exactly what should be scaring the Knicks from investing in him. Injuries and the inability to adjust to a new environment have made him look like a shell of himself, which is especially worrying as he approaches 30 years of age.
He averaged just 9.3 points and 6.5 assists in 46 games with the Mavs last season and hasn't played in more than 68 games in a single campaign since 2010.
Rondo's struggles, however, do give the Knicks a chance to buy low and take a flier on a player who not long ago was considered one of the league's most talented point guards and a regular triple-double threat.
Though he may not fit too well in the triangle and could be headed on a downward spiral, on the right contract Rondo might be worth the risk. If the Knicks don't take a point guard in the draft and aren't willing to overspend on someone like Reggie Jackson, signing Rondo to a short-term deal wouldn't be so bad. The worst-case scenario is that they end up reverting to Langston Galloway at the point if things don't work out.
Rondo is too big a risk to be the center of attention for New York at this point, but he's worth a look. His exact value is hard to pinpoint right now, but if he struggles to find takers in free agency and the Knicks know where they stand in relation to their major targets, they could make a suitable partnership.
3. Khris Middleton
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The Knicks are in desperate need of two-way wings, and while there has been plenty of talk about established players like Arron Afflalo, Wesley Matthews and DeMarre Carroll, they don't constitute an exhaustive list of the options available.
Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks has gone from a second-round pick to a major contributor for a playoff team and has the upside to be part of a long-term rebuild in New York.
In his impressive 2014-15 campaign with Milwaukee, he put up 16 points per 36 minutes and shot 40 percent from downtown. With underappreciated defense and the flexibility to play three positions, he could be just the utility player New York needs to pair with Carmelo Anthony at forward.
As a restricted free agent, Middleton won't come cheap, but the Bucks will have to contemplate matching a significant offer if they're also committed long-term to Jabari Parker, Michael Carter-Williams, Giannis Antetokounmpo and O.J. Mayo in similar roles.
Typically, successfully making a move for a restricted free agent requires overspending, but in the case of Middleton, making an offer the Bucks have to think twice about could be the trick. He's a great fit in an immediate sense and also has the potential to grow into one of the Knicks' most important players in the near future.
2. Wesley Matthews
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In terms of skill set, Wesley Matthews has everything the Knicks should be looking for on the wing. He's a team player, a quality defender and a versatile threat on offense. Now in his prime, he would be the type of addition that proves to Melo that the Knicks are committed to winning as soon as possible.
The only issue with Matthews is the injury risk, since he's coming off a torn Achilles. On the flip side, concerns about his health could keep his free-agent value to a reasonable level (ideally under $10 million), allowing the Knicks to make a move for him and still have room left for one or two other major additions.
In a vacuum, you'd expect the Portland Trail Blazers to do everything in their power to keep a player like Matthews, who's been so important for team chemistry over the past few years. With LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez also hitting free agency (and Damian Lillard and Nicolas Batum to think about next year), the Blazers have some tough decisions to make that could culminate in letting a key player go.
A move to New York would give Matthews the opportunity to take on an even bigger role as the de facto No. 2 to Anthony depending on who else signs up. He's just the kind of mature, steady presence the Knicks need on the wing.
If the Blazers do end up keeping Matthews (or he lands elsewhere), Lopez would also be worth a look. At center, he could be a great value option now that New York has all but missed out on Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns in the draft with its No. 4 selection.
1. DeMarre Carroll
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Like the Trail Blazers, the Atlanta Hawks will have some difficult free-agent decisions to make over the next two years, with Paul Millsap hitting the open market this summer and Al Horford soon to follow in 2016.
Though he won't necessarily be cost-prohibitive to keep, the situation could make breakout forward DeMarre Carroll available—who will keep his options open now that he's finally established himself in the NBA.
Carroll now has two impressive seasons of starting under his belt, looking particularly good offensively as a knockdown shooter in 2014-15. Couple that with seemingly limitless intensity and great defense, and you have another quality fit for the Knicks at forward.
He put up 14.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per 36 minutes as a driving force behind the 60-win Hawks—exactly the type of team New York should be looking to emulate in terms of depth and roster structure.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Carroll is interested in joining the Knicks and head coach Derek Fisher, whom he has worked out with in the past. The Knicks won't be the only team after Carroll by any means, but the bright lights of New York coupled with a personal relationship with Fisher could be enough to lock up a reasonable deal.
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