what free agents do yall want the most? imo there are a couple of options available with the MLE even though, yeah, were probably not gonna end up with guys like Marc Gasol/Tyson Chandler. I think we can get some valuable assets especially considering the chance players will have to get minutes considering we are not deep whatsoever, but still have the chance to win because we have Melo/Amare.
Most teams that can offer some of these middle of the pack guys big minutes are only teams that do not have the talent to win. We have the recruiting advantage of offering both minutes/winning. also the opportunity to play in NY/MSG is always a factor for many players.
I consider our 2 biggest needs to be obviously a legit 7 foot center, who is defensive minded and preferably athletic (even front court defensive depth in general) and some extra scoring options/shooters on the wing to help spread the floor for Stat/Melo. We also still need a PG moving forward but there is no way we will be able to adress that in free agency this summer with only the MLE to work with. For me i would give out the full MLE to either (players that are at least somewhat reasonable)...
Nene (i highly doubt he opts out and if he does i doubt he would sign within the MLE, but with all things considered hes probably the #1 at least somewhat realistic player id want to sign this summer)
Deandre Jordan (hes restricted so its also unlikely but i would definitley throw him the full MLE for the max 5 years. I prefer him over any other center considering our team/style of play, and i think that although its unlikely we sign him we should at least bust our $@! off trying and offer him everything that we possibly could offer. who knows? no harm in trying. when he fell to the 2nd round in that draft, i remember so well being at that draft and saying over and over again to my boys that we should buy a 2nd rounder like we easily could have done and taken him
)
Tyson Chandler (will probably resign with Dallas but we should still make a run at him and give him the full MLE. id potentially give him 4-5 years also if it were the only way we would get him)
Greg Oden (this is an interesting one because hes restricted and i doubt Portland doesnt match anything within the MLE considering all they invested in him. but hes had injury concerns and i feel like if we handed out the full MLE over the 5 year max, Portland would at least have to sleep on that considering his injuries. and for us, i would be willing to take the risk considering the limited options when it comes to legit 7 footers and our desperate need for one as well as his potential which can still be there. best possible scenario if we get him is that he comes out of his shell and becomes an all-star caliber talent. worst scenario is he gets hurt and were still paying him for 5 seasons. more likely/positive scenario is that he proves to be exactly what we need in a starting center next to amare/melo and can stay healthy for the most part and do work when it comes to defense, shot blocking, and rebounding, giving us something in the area of 10+ rpg and 2+ bpg. Either way i would take the chance on Oden for any price within the MLE over any number of years considering hes a center and this guy was touted as the next david robinson a few years back. the MLE could be a steal if we utilize him right and he stays healthy. and if not at least we could drive Portland up and make them take on the risk). They also just fired their GM and who knows? their new guy may not be high on committing to Oden for 5 years, considering he never drafted him.
Marc Gasol (hes restricted and is probably the most locked down player i have named to stay on his team considering the mutual love, but obviously you take the chance)
Wilson Chandler (very intriguing and also the most possible player i have named thus far imo. Having Will back here would be great as a 6th man who can split time with Fields at the 2 and provide some help for Amare/Melo, as he was killing it here this season. during that 13 game winning streak he was our MVP imo after Amare with his Shawne Marion esque play at the 4. he is restricted so we have to outmatch Denver as well as other teams. But if we give him the full MLE over the max 5 seasons, which i would do in a heartbeat for Will, im not sure Denver would match considering he plays Gallo's position, and because they may have to spend big money this summer to keep other guys like Nene, JR Smith, K-Mart, Afflalo, etc. The next question is if Will leaves Denver would he take the MLE? I dont know if he would in most places but Will outspokenly loved playing with the Knicks and the financial security of a 5 year deal could be the deciding factor in him taking the MLE with us, plus he would have a nice role here as the 3rd scoring option to 2 superstars. I dont know how many teams/if any are prepared to give Will more than the MLE but i feel like if we give him that full MLE over 5 year contract, he could definitley agree and Denver may not match. This is probably my favorite more possible option)
Jamal Crawford (would not give him the full 5 years considering his age, but i would definitley pay the max MLE to get Mal back here as 6th man. He was great at that role in Atlanta, hes instant offense, hes clutch, and hes a professional/good locker room presence. similar to Chandler i feel like he would give the Knicks some sort of hometown discount considering the love he still has in NY and how much he enjoyed playing here along with the oppurtunity to contribute as a #3 scoring option on a winning team. I dont know how many teams if any will give him more than the MLE but i could see him taking our offer to come play here again)
J.R. Smith (another player who would be great as a 6th man scorer considering his shooting touch and athleticism. Like Will and Crawford im not sure if he would take a MLE contract but like the other 2 i would still go after him because if he does take a MLE contract, similar to crawford and chandler, i can almost guarantee we would be #1 on his list considering that hes from the area, the opportunity to be a 3rd option on a winning team, and hes boys with Melo/Chauncey who can do some recruiting)
Carl Landry (really good player and he plays hard. i love his game and he could be what we need for some much needed big man depth coming off the bench. hes not a center or a scorer, and he wouldnt start like Nene would if we can miraculously get him, so i would go after the aforementioned players first. but if everything else falls through i would probably hand out the full MLE to Carl)
if these guys all fall through some players i like within the MLE but not at the maximum amount are...
Leon Powe (it seems as if hes definitely fell off over the past few seasons, but hes big and hes athletic, and he was a great contributor/role player off the bench when he played in Boston and that is what we need. i feel like coming here and getting minutes off the bench and maybe even starting at center on a winning team could be what he needs to reignite his carreer. He would probably come relatively cheap also considering his fall off)
Chuck Hayes (another hard working/defensive minded big man who could potentially even start at center for us. Hes only 6'6 but he is a rebounding machine/work horse and has been starting at center in Houston since Yao's absence. I would take a good look at him)
Shane Battier (getting old but is the perfect glue guy for any winning team. also brings shooting, defense, and intangibles off the bench)
Joel Pryzabilla (should definitley be changing scenary considering he has barely played in Charlotte. i definitley do not think he is full MLE worthy like some other centers and he has not played much over the past few seasons, but he was a solid starter in Portland for a few years when Oden would go down, and hes a legit 7 footer. Hes getting up there in age but he could be a great option to fall back on imo)
Jeff Foster (Hes 34 years old and has been a Pacer his entire carreer so i dont know if he would leave now, but he would come pretty cheap and we could potentially persuade him on the oppurtunity to lag big minutes and even start a little at center to try and have a good year or 2 more on a winning team before he retires. Hes a legit 7 footer, and a great rebounder, particualrly an offensive rebounder and hustle player so id at least look into it even if it is just for extra front court depth)
Kenyon Martin (imo a great option for front court depth. hes a veteran who is gonna want to win and contribute as a role player late in his carreer as hes been doing in Denver but i could see us prying him from them considering that we have 2 of his ex-teammates, probably more of a championship window, and he knows the area playing and winning in new jersey)
Reggie Evans (been high on getting him since we have had Amare. i think if we get Faried in the draft getting Evans becomes essentially pointless because Faried pretty much handles everything that Evans brings and he is younger/better/more athletic, so i would spend what $ we have elsewhere. but if we dont get a guy like Faried in the draft, im all for getting a dirty $%#*#$% player like Evans to come off the bench and bring some grit/tenacity, and do all the little dirty work #$+$ that Amare wont do and he is one of the best rebounders in the NBA per minute)
Daequan Cook (restricted and i bet that OKC would match any offer we give him, but if we dont get any of the other swingmen i mentioned Cook would be a great option here. We could use a shooter like him to come off the bench)
Spencer Hawes (hes restricted and i know that Philly has not been too happy with him so i think we have the best chance of signing him out of all the 7 footers i have mentioned. Hes fallen a few steps back but he is a legit 7 footer and he still has good potential imo, getting minutes here could restart him like i said with a few other players. if we cant get one of those other centers i would look into Hawes)
Theo Ratliff (vets minimum? i dont know much about what hes up to now, didnt even know he was still in the L to be honest, but i peeped that hes on the Lakers and an unrestricted free agent this summer so i figured id throw him in the list since hed probably only cost us the vets minimum and dude was a shot blocking BEAST back in his hey day, which is what we are looking for, so i figured he could potentially make some impact giving us more depth off the bench from our front court. and a guy who could potentially guard some of these bigger true center that Stat struggles with, and play help side defense when someone gets beat cause lord knows thats not Amares specialty and block some shots for us if he can still jump
)
Kurt Thomas (I actually really like the idea of getting Kurt over here to finish out his career for the vets minimum, and im sure he would like that also considering he is one of the most popular knicks players of the last decade and he would have the oppurtunity to contribute solid minutes off the bench and help his longest tenured NBA team make some noise in the playoffs which would only add to his legacy in NY. I do not see us spending any more than the vets minimum to get him, but if we are still looking for front court depth and he have used up all our MLE $ i think that Kurt is the best way to go. He gives us front court depth which we could never have too much of especially with Stat's injury history, he is a beloved Knick, a great locker room presence/team leader, and i honestly do think he would be a great contributor especially come playoff time with 10-15 minutes per game. hes not afraid to bang down low and defend/play help defense although hes not a shot blocking presence at all, hes still a great rebounder, and you cant lose that touch from mid range. i could see teams sleeping on him late in games down the stretch or in the playoffs and leave him with some open shots from the top of the key which he would drain. i would seriously explore that possibility assuming he doesnt retire/resign in Chicago)
Samuel Dalembert (for the record i am not interested in getting Dalembert especially because he should cost us at least 3-4 mil which i believe is money MUCH better spent elsewhere, but i figured i should list him for discussion purposes)
those are the players i think we should explore this summer and i think many are actually very realistic options. if we can snag a few players off this list and utilize that #17 pick well we could get alot of pieces that were missing from our team this past season post Melo trade like frontcourt depth and extra scoring options. I think if Donnie spends/drafts wisely this summer we could be looking at a 50 win team next season once Melo/Stoudemire learn to coexist and play to each others strengths.
