Chris Paul to Knicks Wouldn't Be Enough to Bring a Championship This Year

The probable addition of Chris Paul to the Knicks will not be enough for the Knicks this season.

While Paul will be an excellent fit for the Knicks, they have to add depth to their front court before they are ready to compete for a championship.

Probability of Paul Joining Knicks

Chris Paul wants to be a Knick, and that makes this move all but inevitable. He can essentially force the Hornets to trade him there. New Orleans will not want to watch Paul walk away as a free agent at the end of the season. And any team that trades for Paul will want him to sign an extension first.

There is only one team Paul will sign an extension with. That is the Knicks.

The New York Daily News sheds some light on Paul's thought process by offering a quote from Paul during a toast he made at Carmelo Anthony's wedding. 

Paul said that Anthony, Stoudemire and he would form a Big Three in New York.

It is only a matter of time before Paul becomes a Knick.

Paul's Fit with Knicks

Paul's game is custom made for a Big Three. In an age where the game's best point guards look to score first, Paul is a pass first player. Last season, he averaged 9.8 assists in the regular season, and that is without accomplished scorers like Anthony and Stoudemire.

That is not to say Paul can't score. He is effective from anywhere on the court, and he can stretch the defense. He shot 39 percent from distance last season.

Why They Need More

While Paul's addition would be a huge piece to the puzzle, it is not the only one they need to add. The Knicks need depth in their front court.

The Knicks have 'Melo and Stoudemire for the front court and a bunch of fringe bench players. They need a serviceable center that can offer more than Ronny Turiaf's toughness.

They also need someone to help ease the load on A'mare Stoudemire. The prized power forward is an injury waiting to happen. Stoudemire's minutes need to carefully monitored in the regular season so he is in a position to do his thing in the playoffs.

The Knicks are not currently in a position to do that. As it is right now, Jarred Jeffries is his backup. Having Jeffries play more than roughly 10 seconds is a recipe to a loss.

Conclusion

The Knicks are going to have a hard time adding any significant talent if they want to be able to afford Chris Paul.

They will have to search for players willing to take the veterans minimum. That will make things difficult, but not impossible. They will be able to offer those players a set role and solid minutes.

They will also have a strong shot at winning the championship.