5 Realistic Targets for New York Knicks to Chase in 2015 NBA Free Agency

With money to spend, the New York Knicks will enter 2015 free agency dreaming big, but in all likelihood, they will struggle to bring in a marquee free agent.

This shouldn't be too big of a concern for New York, however—this year's free-agent class offers plenty of realistic, cost-effective options to lay the foundations of a deep roster.

Looking around the league, the blueprint for success has been putting together well-rounded teams that combine top draft picks with smart free-agent signings and making chemistry the priority. The top-heavy direction that the Knicks have typically headed in under James Dolan's ownership isn't going to cut it anymore.

With needs all over the court, there are plenty of potential routes Phil Jackson could go in free agency. Let's take a look at five particularly realistic acquisitions, breaking down their likely cost and how they'd fit into the rebuilding project.

Greg Monroe

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Unless they get incredibly lucky and Karl Anthony-Towns or Jahlil Okafor falls to No. 4 in the draft, the Knicks are going to be in the market for a center in free agency.

Though he would probably demand a max contract—as is par for the course with talented centers—Greg Monroe could offer a suitable compromise between immediate impact and upside.

Monroe is a proven offensive weapon, having put up 18.5 points per 36 minutes on 50 percent shooting in 2014-15. In the triangle, his post game, big body and underrated passing ability could really help out the Knicks. 

On the defensive end, Monroe leaves a lot more to be desired, but he's still only 25 years old. The Knicks would eventually need to acquire a true rim defender to pair with him in the frontcourt, but as a one-on-one defender, he shouldn't be too much of a concern.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Monroe to the Knicks is already close to a done deal. It would mean spending roughly $15 million of the $27 million New York will have to spend, but that still leaves room for another significant signing. Along with the draft pick, that would potentially mean three new quality starters.

The issue with Monroe is where exactly to play him. In a vacuum, he's a great offensive fit in the triangle, but there's a dilemma in pairing him with Carmelo Anthony. Ideally, Melo would move back to the 4, where he has played his best basketball over the last few years, but Monroe isn't a good enough team defender to play center in that scenario.

Moving them both down a spot to make room for a defensive-minded center could work but has the potential to lead to congestion in the paint, much like the trio of Melo, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler.

DeMarre Carroll

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The Knicks are also going to need serious help on the wing, having suffered a shortage of two-way players there for a while now.

A player who can spread the floor and get to the rim in the triangle while playing intense, shutdown defense on the other end would be perfect. DeMarre Carroll fits the bill to a T, having played a major role at the heart of the Atlanta Hawks' incredible 60-win season in 2014-15.

With the ability to play both forward positions, Carroll's flexibility makes him a great fit with Melo. He opens up possibilities for covering Anthony on the defensive end while still putting him in the best position possible on offense.

Taking advantage of the mismatch Anthony offers offensively at power forward would no longer come with the caveat of him going head-to-head with bigger players every defensive possession.

However, this isn't just about compatibility; in the right role, Carroll is a great player in his own right with a fairly diverse game. He put up 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season, also shooting an efficient 40 percent from downtown.

As a result, Carroll will be looking for a nice pay raise in free agency. Putting an exact number on him is difficult at this point, but it certainly seems likely he'll be looking at upwards of $8 million at the very least.

If they can sign him for $10 million or under, the Knicks should feel comfortable in picking Carroll up. He now has two seasons of quality starting basketball under his belt, so New York can rest assured that it isn't buying into unsustainable hype.

Wesley Matthews

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At shooting guard, another two-way option would be Wesley Matthews, an established starter who could be available for a reasonable price coming off an Achilles tear.

Matthews is as consistent as they come, having averaged 15.4 points per game on 44 percent shooting while providing solid defense over five years with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Portland will certainly want to keep Matthews, who's played such an important role gluing the team together, but with all five of its regular starters hitting free agency over the next two years, it's going to be costly to bring them all back. 

The Knicks could swoop in with an offer of around $10 million and leave the Blazers with a very tough decision to make on Matthews. Investing so much in an injured player would be a risk, but at full health, the price is very reasonable.

Matthews would provide the kind of steadying presence New York needs at the 2 as opposed to the erratic performance of Tim Hardaway Jr., who still has plenty of work to do before he becomes a worthy starter. Depending on how the rest of the offseason goes, Matthews would be a reliable second scoring option after Melo, too.

Robin Lopez

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Another Trail Blazer worth considering is Robin Lopez, whose name has been buried behind bigger-name free-agent centers such as Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan and Monroe.

Make no mistake, though; Lopez is a quality, hard-working defender and would offer great value for money at $6-8 million.

Lopez isn't a star by any means and, at 27 years of age, is unlikely to get much better. He would, however, cover the Knicks' defensive and rebounding needs in the frontcourt, allowing them to focus on more offensive-minded players elsewhere.

In Lopez, New York would have a player who can average close to a double-double and let Anthony move back to power forward in a dynamic that would work much like his partnership with Tyson Chandler. That era may not have left the best taste in Knicks fans' mouths, but remember that Melo was able to win the scoring title with a center capable of taking the pressure off him defensively and regularly grabbing second-chance opportunities on offense.

If the Knicks are unable to find an elite center, bringing in Lopez would be the smart move, retaining the financial flexibility to acquire star power elsewhere on the court. Moves like this are what allow for talent to be spread more evenly across the roster.

Omer Asik

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Much like Lopez, Omer Asik would work well as a plan B if the Knicks are unable to find a star center. He provides the basics of rim defense and hard work on the boards, leaving room for flair elsewhere in the lineup.

Having made $15 million last season as a result of the "poison pill" contract he signed with the Houston Rockets back in 2012, Asik's asking price is going to drop drastically. Realistically, the Knicks could come to terms on a deal with Asik for under $10 million, if that.

For his career, Asik has averaged a steady 10.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes. Though he's not a great offensive player, he has also never shot less than 50 percent from the field in a season, understanding that his role is more to provide the dirty work.

The fit isn't great in the triangle, admittedly, but if the Knicks aren't completely bound to the system, he wouldn't be a hindrance to chemistry. As long as the rest of the floor is well-spaced, New York could definitely get by for the foreseeable future with Asik at center.