Put Some Hornacek On Our Game: 2016 New York Knicks Offseason Thread

storyteller

storyteller

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Knicks may look to trade market this summer; Darren Collison a target?

Free agency is still more than two months away, so it’s very early to discuss the Knicks’ potential targets with any certainty.

But we know that the club will be looking to upgrade the backcourt this summer.

New York projects to have at least $18 million in cap space to use in free agency. That number could climb to around $30 million if Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams decline the player options on their contracts (worth $8 million and $4.6 million respectively).

But either way, Phil Jackson and the Knicks will have enough money to add talent in the backcourt.

Some available targets include Mike Conley, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, Nic Batum and DeMar DeRozan. (It’s worth noting here that Memphis is confident that it can retain Conley.)

The Knicks, of course, aren’t limited to chasing players on the free-agent market. Their available cap space would allow them to absorb contracts via trade as well.

The trade route is an option that had been discussed among members of the front office late in the season, per sources with knowledge of the talks; one player some in the organization are fond of is Darren Collison, who backed up Rondo in Sacramento this year, sources say.

Do the Knicks have the pieces to deal for Collison, scheduled to make $5.2 million next season? That’s unclear. But if they can, such a transaction would probably leave the club with enough money to spend on another starting-caliber free agent.

It’s also worth noting that the Knicks showed interest in trading for Jeff Teague prior to the 2016 trade deadline; there was some internal chatter last month about trying to revisit that this summer, league sources say.

Would the Knicks have enough pieces to land Teague? Who knows? Would Atlanta have any interest? Based on what happened in February, probably not.

But the idea that the Knicks are considering the trade market this summer is worth remembering as you think about the coming offseason, which will be an important one in New York.
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You know what, that wouldn't be a bad stop gap plan at all if they could pull it off. Collison isn't a needle mover but he's solid and he's an upgrade that only takes 5.2 million in cap space. The Knicks would have enough cap space to add a starting SG and possibly a back-up true PF as well (or maybe just money to retain D-Will). Willy Hernangomez coming over would turn that into a pretty competitive roster (especially if KP and Grant develop further).
 
storyteller

storyteller

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The Tom Thibodeau fear that scared off Knicks and Lakers

According to a league source, the Knicks did their due diligence/research on Thibodeau, even took his contact information. But nothing further developed.

The Knicks got the distinct impression Thibodeau, after his in-fighting with Bulls management, wanted to have major input in personnel matters in his next job, even the offbeat issues regarding the medical staff’s ability to impose minutes restrictions on certain players.

Jackson and Knicks GM Steve Mills didn’t feel they would be “simpatico’’ — Jackson’s favorite word — with the former Bulls head coach, as good a defensive guru as he is. The Los Angeles Times reported the Lakers didn’t have interest in Thibodeau either over similar concerns and hence were in no rush to fire Byron Scott until Sunday.
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Okay, so if Thibs wants the ability to ignore a medical staff's minutes restrictions...I'll pass. If that's true, I actually get it.

Meanwhile, Jackson still is leaning toward making his longtime compadre Rambis the permanent head coach, feeling he can use their friendship and work in closer tandem than most NBA presidents/coaches and recommit to the triangle. Jackson and Rambis even share the same agents.

If Rambis’ leadership/motivational skills are a concern — sources say players didn’t respect him with the same vigor as Derek Fisher — Jackson will be right there with him and won’t have to worry about overstepping his bounds as he did with Fisher. Rambis also would revamp the coaching staff to ensure it is not divided in philosophy.
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:mjcry: The only nice note here is that they won't split the coaching staff, it'll be one philosophy...but that should always be the case anyway so it's more an indictment on the first coaching staff they put together.
 
RickyGQ

RickyGQ

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Bazemore getting the max this summer... What's his max look like? 17?
 
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