After a year of frustrations, the New York Knicks head into a new campaign brimming with hope and optimism about their chances this season. And with the arrival of a championship-winning coach and head for basketball operations, the Knickerbockers are no doubt gunning for a home run this year.
The Knicks, one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, might be few steps away from becoming a legitimate NBA championship contender. Although there are still tons of works to do for them to reach that point, the presence of Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher finished half of their job.
Since his hiring as the top decision-maker for the Knicks, the 11-time championship winning head coach has already pulled off underrated but significant transactions over the past few months.
The trade that sent Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert and two second-round picks (Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo) has helped the Knicks unload onerous contracts and at the same time, add personnel who are better suited to play his triangle offense.
The signing of Fisher as the Knicks head coach is another noteworthy move, as he can easily impart his vision to someone who knows how to orchestrate the triangle offense to the finest detail.
These deals, aside from locking up Carmelo Anthony to five more years in expense of a $124M contract, will lay the foundation of a new era in Knickerbockers basketball.
According to Sheridan Hoops writer Michael Scotto, the Knicks are just starting to execute their plan as bigger moves are about to happen in the coming months, and there's no bigger deal out there than trading the expiring contracts of Amar's Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani for another superstar.
Scotto believed the Knicks are just one big move away from turning into a bonifide contender, and he thinks a trade for Boston Celtics playmaker Rajon Rondo would seal the deal.
"The Boston Celtics are rebuilding and need to make a decision on Rajon Rondo, who is coincidentally a free agent target for the Knicks this upcoming summer," Scott stated in his latest article.
"The cap space that the expiring contracts of Bargnani and Stoudemire will provide could allow for the signing of Rondo next summer. If the Knicks can lock Rondo up now in a trade before he hits the open market, and without giving away quality assets, it's a move they'd surely consider."
Aside from Rondo, the Knicks are also monitoring other playesr who could be available by February's trade deadline. Incoming free-agents like Goran Dragic, Klay Thompson, Reggie Jackson or perhaps All-Star center Marc Gasol are some of the names on the Knicks' wish-list, but there's also a possibility they can snatch a disgruntled star at some point this season. One thing is for sure, the Knicks are expected to swing for the fences from here on out.
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