https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/687804483477356544

Please note that Lance Thomas cap hold is around $2.1m so that should be added minus the empty roster cap hold($543k). Also, note that Galloway cap hold could increase to just over $2m if he plays more than 2,000 minutes.

What are the knicks needs? I think the knicks need back court help at both guard positions and also another athletic big who can step out and play mobile bigs when Lopez and Kp are in foul trouble or need a breather. A big in the mold of Mason Plumlee would be nice but is very hard to find. Taj Gibson would work too but he is under contract. Those guys are just my examples though. Christian Wood is someone might deserve a look at in SL.

I think everyone agrees that right now it looks as though the knicks need point guard help but the pool is very shallow this summer. Mike Conley is the big fish out there but he is close to thirty and is in a down year. Plus, he will command a pretty penny but most FAs this year will. He is a defensive pg that can also produce on offense. He is not flashy but gets the job done.

Another not flashy guy but get the job done player is Nicolas Batum. He will cost, maybe max or maybe near max, but he is a player that could help on both ends. He is a versatile player able to play the 2/3 and even play some spot duty PF. I love his passing and play making. He would be an upgrade over AA in every aspect of the game almost. Hopefully the Knicks climbing the stands and the Hornets will keep falling making the Knicks a better choice for Nicolas.

Now, who knows if the knicks can get Conley or Batum. If they can't they will have to trust their scouts and predict candidates who can take their games to another level in the Knicks system Offensively and Defensively. I think a player like Maurice Harkless is a guy who may fit that mold and could take the Early's place.

The UFA pool does not look great but there maybe some lower cost gems.Kent Bazemore is a sg/sf who is unrestricted that will probably be a candidate. Does he want to leave ATL?

The RFA list is better but the booming cap will make it even harder for other teams to snag one in FA.

Some RFAs I like are: Harrison Barnes, Terrance Jones, Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson(poison pill?)

Hopefully the knicks can continue their momentum into a playoff berth and make some noise. That would go along way in regards to making them an attractive free agent landing spot.

Another thing to remember is that while the PG pool for 2016 will be small the 2017 pool could be amazing. Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul both have player options and can opt out to chase that one last big pay day.

Here is a list of 2016 FAs.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/

Edit:

I forgot to mention that the Knicks will have the room exception to use again. Hopefully, they find a better use for it this year than they did last year with K.S.

I dont know if I would want to waive Calderon, but if the Knicks do sign someone at the point, either Grant, Galloway or Calderon are gone.

I think Early is gone, and it would be great for O'Quinn to be moved for a second rounder opening up his 3,918,750. I also believe that Afflalo and L. Thomas will stay and DWill will leave for a starting job. So I think the cap space could be 26,184,810 plus whatever opens up at the PG position. Which could make it 32,351,552 if they were to waive Calderon and my math is right.

The main thing is guys know their roles and the Triangle is an offense that takes time to learn. This group should be better in year 2 at running it than this year. You make 4-5 changes and now you've got to re-start the whole thing again.

Currently this rotation (with a healthy Melo, Afflalo and KP) has been able to go 18-14 (4 games without Melo, 8 games without Afflalo). 22-18 with Melo/KP. There's still growth left within what we have. We don't want to lose that. We want that PLUS some talent coming in (especially in the backcourt).

Lopez/Porzingis/O'Quinn
Porzingis/Williams
Melo/Thomas
Afflalo/Galloway
Calderon/Grant/Galloway

I think where the Knicks can really improve is the backcourt obviously. But what type of player is truly needed? Someone that can defend as Calderon is completely outmatched there physically (even though he tries). Someone that can knock down 3's and outside shots (A big weakness and part of why we can't rely on Grant yet). Someone that is comfortable bringing the ball up and playing off Melo/KP or letting the Triangle create an open/good look for him.

Lets be conservative and say we have about 15 million left in space after keeping rights to or agreeing to re-sign the guys in the rotation currently.

Players I'd look at

Kent Brazemore - wouldn't help our PG position, but take the load of Afflalo, is 26 years old, can shoot the 3 really well. Has good size at 6'5. Would mean Galloway and Grant are our main PG's next year, with Calderon as 3rd string. Brazemore would command I think a 4 year deal at 12-15 million per.

Lance Stephenson - having a real bad 2 years, but Indiana ran a very similar offense to what NY runs and he played very well of Paul George and helped facilitate the offense. Real headcase, however a physical talent. Versatile enough to play 1, 2 or 3. Would have to be a short deal, something like Derrrick Williams got this year.

Eric Gordon - someone who would be instant offense and carry the 2nd unit offense completely. Could play both 1 and 2 for us in the offense. Would likely command a 3 year deal at 15 million per year or more. Not a big fan of his game, but he'd give us plenty of shot/play creating skill and he can also knock down 3's playing off Melo/KP/Triangle.

Even if we add 1 backcourt player to the current team who can consistently give them 10-15 points a night, I think it goes far with this group. The team is loaded up front. They have some solid young guard talent in Galloway and Grant - both of whom can defend. The key next season will be phase Calderon out slowly into a 3rd string PG (more of a Sasha role than a starting role) and get someone that can ease the minutes load on Afflalo. Realize the last thing we want for a team with Melo playing a point forward role like LBJ, KP playing/developing into a 2nd option star - the Triangle - is to have a ball dominant guy come in and take a ton of shots and mess up the chemistry and player development we have going on. We need 1-2 significant moves. One has to be a 1 or 2 guard that can start or play big minutes to allow less reliance on Calderon/Afflalo. Second has to be someone that can defend. We have defensive potential with Grant/Galloway/Porzingis but still can get more defensive help at the perimeter.

If we even say sign Lance Stephenson (8 million/2 years) and Eric Gordon (50 million/4 years), while being able to re-sign Williams, Afflalo, Thomas and Galloway, I'd be quite happy.

Cartman718 wrote:great breakdown yellowboy...this leads me to believe that our PG replacement is not coming anytime soon.

The history of Phil Jackson teams show that what you need from the 1 guard isn't so much a ballhandling creator, as much as a tough physical defender who can knock down 3's. Galloway and Grant both have more than enough potential to fill in the 1 guard position in the offense. Melo is already playing point forward. What's really needed is someone at 2 or at the wing to also being able to pass. Afflalo is 1 dimensional a bit. Good scorer, not good enough a passer/playmaker. What we need is someone at 2 who can move the ball and also hit the outside shots, cut and finish etc.

I think Batum is the most obvious choice because of his combination of passing/scoring/defensive skills. However someone like Lance Stephenson is a guy like Derrick Williams in that if he's in the right environment (like he was in Indiana) his skills will showcase and you'll see him flourish. If we aren't able to sign Batum which is likely, I'd make a strong play for Lance Stephenson as bad as his reputation/level has dropped.

C Lopez/O'Quinn
PF Porzingis/Dwill
SF Anthony/Thomas

We are covered up front in the first and 2nd unit. A lot of questions remain, but they are all in the backcourt. We need to determine what guards best upgrade what we have right now and fit with our current frontcourt.

Knixkik wrote:Great summary. The Knicks needs are all in the back court. Do not touch the front court. Let's build some continuity there.

C Lopez/O'Quinn
PF Porzingis/Dwill
SF Anthony/Thomas

We are covered up front in the first and 2nd unit. A lot of questions remain, but they are all in the backcourt. We need to determine what guards best upgrade what we have right now and fit with our current frontcourt.

I don't think our front court is fine how it is at all. We need another big that can actually bang and get rebounds and play defense which is somethings we don't get from Seraphin or O'Quinn. I wonder if the lakers would do something like a Seraphin for B.Bass? It's nothing big but Bass is more of a energy guy that will get in the paint and rebound more than Seraphin or O'Quinn and i heard he's on the trade block. If not that deal then something smaller like that that gets us another big that actually plays D and rebounds.

Knixkik wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

Knixkik wrote:Great summary. The Knicks needs are all in the back court. Do not touch the front court. Let's build some continuity there.

C Lopez/O'Quinn
PF Porzingis/Dwill
SF Anthony/Thomas

We are covered up front in the first and 2nd unit. A lot of questions remain, but they are all in the backcourt. We need to determine what guards best upgrade what we have right now and fit with our current frontcourt.

I don't think our front court is fine how it is at all. We need another big that can actually bang and get rebounds and play defense which is somethings we don't get from Seraphin or O'Quinn. I wonder if the lakers would do something like a Seraphin for B.Bass? It's nothing big but Bass is more of a energy guy that will get in the paint and rebound more than Seraphin or O'Quinn and i heard he's on the trade block. If not that deal then something smaller like that that gets us another big that actually plays D and rebounds.

KOQ should be that guy, but no matter who you get, where is their place in the rotation? KP's minutes will increase next season, and Lopez and Anthony will remain high. Dwill and Lance (if resigned) will keep their rotation spots. That's all the minutes you have. In addition, i disagree about needing someone who is just a banger. We don't need post players, we need versatile guys who can play inside and out. The game is changing, and we don't have a problem rebounding the ball. We don't need another big man slowing us down, especially when we get a new PG who can run a little more. Just my thought.

Well we all have our own opinion but for me i'd rather have a different big playing O'Quinn's minutes. He has absolutely no defense at all and he makes some really stupid fouls a lot.

ChuckBuck wrote:The biggest question really is to gamble on Conley/Batum this season or go all in next season on Westbrook/CP3.

Either way, to come out with absolutely nothing or dud free agents would screw this franchise for years to come. Melo's remaining decent corpse wasted, and KP's rising star squandered.

Have to strike while the iron's hot...

You can always move Conley/Batum later if a guy like Westbrook comes up.