New York Knicks: Five Members Under the Microscope for the 2010-11 NBA Season
The upcoming season is one of the most important seasons in recent memory for the New York Knicks.
With the last remnants of Isiah Thomas's reign nearly expunged, the transition from bottom-dwelling team to respectable franchise is just around the corner.
Thomas's decisions have rocked the organization long after he was fired. For years, bad contracts and lost draft picks continued to torment the Knicks.
Donnie Walsh has laid the foundation for the team while managing to maintain fiscal responsibility. One could call him a genuine miracle worker with what he has managed to do with the roster thus far.
Under the glaring scrutiny of the unyielding New York media, there are five current members of the Knicks whose every move will be thoroughly dissected at every turn.
Danilo Gallinari
1 of 5
"The Rooster," as he is affectionately called, has the least amount of pressure on him of this group—the remaining two years on his moderate rookie contract and the Knicks' continued faith in his potential give him wiggle room with the team.
Coming into his third year in the league, Gallinari has surprised many with his quick development.
After only two years, Danilo has already become one of the best three-point shooters in the league—a perfect fit for Mike D'Antoni's system. His length causes constant matchup problems on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball and he has the makings of a future All-Star.
Last year's famous duel with Carmelo Anthony showed his grittiness and determination.
It also showed that he has the potential to be a strong perimeter defender.
Coincidentally, Gallinari has been linked as a prospective trade asset in a deal for Anthony. He is arguably their second most enticing trade asset and the Knicks' front office may eventually decide that he is not a part of the organization's future.
If that's the case, he may be traded in a potential blockbuster deal.
So, the question is, will his career path more closely resemble Dirk Nowitzki or Hedo Turkoglu?
Wilson Chandler
2 of 5
Chandler has been the subject of trade speculation all summer long. He's been connected to a supposed Rudy Fernandez swap with the Portland Trailblazers—a deal that, whether or not it was ever true, now appears to be dead.
With the continued chatter of an impending Carmelo deal, Chandler has also supposedly been dangled around the league as trade bait in order to attain a first-round pick.
He must ignore all the trade talk and focus on the task at hand, which is to make the playoffs.
Chandler is a veritable multi-tool. He can defend and play multiple positions and has solid range on his jumper. He's capable of creating his own shot from nearly anywhere on the court and keeps defenses honest with his ability to drive the lane.
However, he still has several areas that he needs to improve on.
Aside from his 2008-09 campaign in which he played in every contest, Wilson has missed a significant amount of time: 64 games over the course of three seasons, to be exact. This past offseason, Chandler had surgery for a hernia and an ankle injury, which is never a good sign for an athlete. How he bounces back from those setbacks will be carefully monitored.
Getting arrested in May with marijuana in his car, Wilson has brought bad publicity to himself and the Knicks organization. While the charges are still pending, the evidence is there to convict him—of course, his friend accompanying him at the time will most likely take the rap.
Still, with the Knicks coming off a sexual harassment suit against a disgraced former GM and another one lobbed at Eddy Curry, the Knicks are looking to recoup their image.
With Chandler's contract set to expire at the end of the season, Walsh will have to decide if he wants to pay him or trade him. As 'Melo is on the verge of becoming a free agent—unless he signs an extension with a team—Donnie may feel safer saving cap space in order to try and lure Anthony back to his hometown.
Chandler will have to prove that he can be a difference maker on a team full of wing players.
If he fails to stand out, this may be his final curtain call on Broadway.
Raymond Felton
3 of 5
Raymond Felton has a lot of pressure on him in New York. With only a two-year lease, he doesn't have the time to sell himself short. He must quickly adapt to Mike D'Antoni's fast paced system and help lead this team to victory.
Felton certainly has all the tools to flourish. He is a solid rebounder despite his size, and he has a knack for getting his hands on the ball. Raymond is quick with a strong transition game, and he likes to penetrate the lane.
With a developing three-point shot, Felton will force defenses to play him tight—which he can make them pay for.
However, if Felton's touch from long range doesn't improve and he has trouble perfecting the pick-and-roll with Amar'e, he will not survive in New York—those are two keys to D'Antoni's "seven seconds or less" offense.
With all the high-fliers on this squad, Felton will also be expected to deliver textbook lob passes.
While rumors of Chris Paul wanting out of New Orleans have more or less subsided, trade speculation will dog Felton until Paul either signs an extension with the Hornets or has a new contract in place with another team.
Paul isn't the only one though.
With the emergence of George Hill on the Spurs, Tony Parker has been linked to the New York Knicks on numerous occasions.
If Felton underachieves and is content to be a high-paid rental, then his time in New York will be short-lived.
Amar'e Stoudemire
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Amar'e wanted the limelight, and now he has it.
The lights inside Madison Square Garden are just as bright as those at the Staples Center.
With hopes pinned on the first winning season and playoff berth in a decade, Amar'e is shouldering an enormous load.
Even with the change of scenery, not much else will change for Amar'e.
The East has become a top-heavy conference with Dwight Howard and the Celtics' frontcourt replacing Tim Duncan and the Lakers'. Then, of course, there's Miami to worry about.
While any talk of a championship is out of the equation, a new era in New York is anticipated for the upcoming season.
Amar'e will be expected to do no less than take on a leadership role and guide this young team into the playoffs. Any less and the relentless New York media will tear him apart.
Can he deliver? Well, only time will tell.
Coach Mike D'Antoni
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As the man orchestrating the strings on the court, there is more pressure on him than anyone else to succeed.
After two seasons of losing basketball, Mike D'Antoni finally has the pieces to contend in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.
Donnie Walsh has managed to get rid of nearly all the bloated contracts Isiah handed out—with the exception of Eddy Curry's—and trim the payroll, while expanding the talent.
Both D'Antoni and Walsh created a losing atmosphere and mentality within the organization last year. They essentially let it be known that all the players not under contract for the following year had no future with the Knicks.
The organization's lack of loyalty toward some players certainly put a strain on their relationship.
D'Antoni also hasn't exactly made nice with all his players. He has, at times, been quick to throw some of them under the bus.
Last year, he alienated Nate Robinson for his bravado on the court, and Robinson eventually wound up traded to the Celtics, playing a key role off the bench as Boston made it to the NBA Finals.
If Mike continues to go after his players, it won't be long before even they lose faith in him.
The trend this past decade of missing the playoffs can no longer continue. Even Walsh may not be able to save D'Antoni from the chopping block if they are not successful.
Simply put, there are no excuses this year.
