New York Knicks Must Resolve Depth Issues in Order to Contend in the East

Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire are going to need some depth on the Knicks if they're going to lead the team to a successful season in the near future.

While there was undoubtedly more excitement at Madison Square Garden last season than there has been in a long while, the team's disappointing end to the campaign at the hands of the Boston Celtics left a sour taste in the club's mouth.

With Chauncey Billups going down with a knee injury and the Knicks struggling to combat opposing size down low, the Knicks lack of depth was readily exposed.

Although they've already got almost $60 million committed next season, they're going to have to find a way to scrap together some signings out of the bargain bin in an effort to maximize value. 

9. Jamaal Magloire, Center

Magloire has no intention of retiring despite being seldom used by the Heat last season, and that should make him a very reasonably priced fallback option for the Knicks.

If they're unable to secure someone of greater prominence down low, Magloire's size would be a welcome addition to a second unit that was completely void of it last season.

He wouldn't have to do much besides clog the lane and protect the rim, and he could prove to take some of the pressure off of an undersized Ronny Turiaf beneath the basket. 

8. Francisco Elson, Center

Elson, like Magloire, certainly won't do anything mind-shattering if eventually signed by the Knicks, but his legitimate seven-foot size makes him very valuable to the club.

Despite bouncing around the league, Elson has illustrated that he can be trusted as a reliable reserve that will play any role asked of him, but he certainly can't be overexposed with extended playing time.

He would come on the cheap while being able to provide the size that the Knicks desperately need at the end of their bench as an insurance policy.

7. Reggie Evans, Power Forward

Although Evans' season was cut short last season because of a broken foot, he quickly asserted as one of the league's most aggressive rebounders.

Averaging an impressive 11.5 per game, Evans is clearly unafraid to do the dirty work around the basket, which could prove critical with the team's commitment to Stoudemire down low.

He doesn't have any offensive upside, but he doesn't need to, as his job on the Knicks would be to provide an element of toughness along the front line that was noticeably absent fairly frequently in the second unit last season.

6. Jeff Foster, Center

Although some Knicks fans will likely cringe at the thought of adding a 34-year-old backup center to the team, Foster has proven to still be plenty productive as he enters the latter stages of his career.

He averaged a fairly impressive 6.3 boards per game last season in less than 20 minutes per contest, and his physical style of play coupled with his attitude to not back down from anyone would fit perfectly in New York's second unit.

Foster could also serve as a veteran leader in an otherwise youthful group of players, and he shouldn't come on an expensive price tag whatsoever for the club. 

5. Anthony Parker, Shooting Guard

Parker could be an ideal veteran to add to a crop of youthful swing players on the Knicks roster, and he has really shown to be a professional both on and off the court throughout his career.

He would add a reliable option behind Landry Fields who seemed to fizzle down the stretch last season, and Parker wouldn't be asked to take on too big of a role, serving as a mentor to some of the younger guys.

Depending on the level of interest in him on the open market, Parker may prove to be too pricey for the Knicks, but they should really take a long hard look at veterans like this one that can improve the quality of the huddle on the bench. 

4. T.J. Ford, Point Guard

Ford really fell out of favor with the Pacers, and although he's a veteran of the game, the point guard is still just 28 years old and has plenty to contribute.

When Billups sustained a knee injury last season, the offense really sputtered with Toney Douglas running the point, and it's clear that the club needs a more viable option in case of another injury.

He would be able to facilitate the flow while leaving the offense up to Anthony and Stoudemire, and Ford could really prove to be a bargain bin signing that could potentially work out very well for the Knicks.

3. Kurt Thomas, Center

Despite being the oldest player in the league, Thomas was instrumental for the Bulls last season with the rash of injuries along the front line and illustrated that he can still play at a solid clip.

His hard-nosed intensity and commitment to competition are two elements that would really benefit the Knicks, and the team has even expressed interest in the big man prior to the lockout as their starting center moving forward.

He shouldn't come very expensive as most teams will be hesitant to pay him more than the veteran's minimum, but if the Knicks are serious about targeting him, they could do a lot worse for depth along the front line than Thomas.

2. Shannon Brown, Shooting Guard

Brown's decision to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Lakers was somewhat surprising considering he had a down campaign, but his elite athleticism will surely draw interest around the league.

After showing solid promise in 2009-10, Brown seemingly fell out of the team's favor in 2010-11, playing fewer minutes than most had anticipated, especially with the team's deficiencies at the point guard spot.

With the Knicks, the 25-year-old would have a chance to really shine and could provide for an utterly explosive backcourt when playing alongside first-round selection Iman Shumpert. 

1. Aaron Gray, Center

Gray opted out of the final year of his deal with the Hornets, and although he hasn't been too highly of a coveted asset previously, the Knicks should be zeroing in on him for their starting center gig.

Jerome Jordan likely won't run away with the starting job, and Gray's addition to the team would instantly give him the chance to start on an improving, competitive club.

He flashed serious potential to be a solid center late last season and in the early part of the postseason before an ankle injury got the best of him, and there's no doubt that he could be a much better option in the middle for the Knicks than they've seen in a very long time.