The New York Knicks: Where do we go now?

By James Epstein

The New York Knicks were sometimes successful but always memorable. Now they go into the offseason needing to answer a number of big questions.

The New York Knicks. Talk about a roller coaster ride for the ages.

The season started with the Tyson Chandler signing and championship aspirations, hit its first major drop with an 8-15 start, then twisted and turned as Jeremy Lin took the world by storm, Mike D’Antoni left, Mike Woodson stepped in, and Carmelo Anthony took over. And after all that, Amar’e Stoudemire fought a fire extinguisher. 

What a ride. Would you sign up for another season? I’d hesitate too. So where do we go from here? These are the most important questions that the Knicks must answer this offseason:

Who will be the head coach?

Finishing the season on an 18-6 run and snapping New York’s playoff win drought gave Mike Woodson a strong case for the permanent coaching gig. Not only did he implement a system that helped the Knicks finish in the top five in defensive efficiency, he won the respect of his players with his emphasis on accountability.

However, the Knicks should nevertheless explore the possibility of signing Phil Jackson. The Zen Master is just one year into retirement, but wife Jenny Buss is already saying that she wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson was back on the sidelines soon. Chandler, Stoudemire and Anthony are perfect pieces for Jackson’s triangle offense. And best of all, James Dolan could do what he can’t do with players and grossly outbid the competition.

While hiring Jackson would make for quite the scene in New York, though, it’s likely too much of a gamble for a team just starting to find its identity. Jackson would require full autonomy over the team, which would clash with Dolan’s controlling persona, and there’s no guarantee he would be on board for more than a couple years. Considering all of that, expect Woodson to officially take the helm in what reports are saying would be a four-year deal. He’s already improved the Knicks in the locker room, now he just has to do the same with them on the court.

Prediction: Mike Woodson signs for four Years

What will the Knicks do at point guard?

New York is already over the salary cap, which means it only has its exceptions ($5.0 million, $2.5 million bi-annual and four $1.9 million veteran contracts) to use on free agents. That’s not a lot of wiggle room, but the $5.0 million exception should be earmarked for the franchise’s next floor general. Point guard is a crucial position, and for the Knicks, the choice could come down to upstart Jeremy Lin or aging two-time MVP Steve Nash.

Jeremy Lin took over the city midway through he season. In 25 starts, he averaged 18.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and yes, 4.7 turnovers. He will be just 24 years old going into next season, and while teams everywhere will try to steal Lin, the Knicks can match any offer others might make. They just first have to decide if he’s the face of the future or a brief sensation on the verge of falling back to Earth.

Meanwhile, Steve Nash has already spent years living in New York City during the offseason. He even holds his annual soccer tournament at Chelsea Piers. And on the court, he’s been clear about his willingness to leave Phoenix in search of a championship contender. The Knicks could argue that they fit his needs, and as a result will almost certainly factor into his decision on where to play next year. However, more established teams like the Heat, Lakers and Grizzlies will pursue Nash as well, and he might prove too expensive for New York.

On this question, the difference maker is Jeremy Lin’s returns at the box office. Dolan will not be able to ignore his star power and the immediate impact he had on the enthusiasm surrounding the team. As long as Lin has the confidence to play as an equal alongside Stoudemire and Anthony, rather than defer to them, he’ll likely continue to be effective. Expect the Knicks to lock Lin up for at least four years.

Prediction: Jeremy Lin signs for four years, $30 million

Resigning The Supporting Cast

Filling out the roster will once again take some clever maneuvering. The first issue is whether J.R. Smith will pick up his option. The enigmatic sixth man had a rough playoff run that turned some fans against him. However, Smith is from Newark, N.J., and has always had a love for New York.

"Without a doubt, hands down, I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else," Smith said on Trash-Bag Day Thursday. "It’s the greatest place to play. It’s the greatest city in the world. This is my ultimate home."

Should he return, and it certainly sounds like he will, the Knicks will be getting a talented role player at a steal of a price.

Next up is Steve Novak, who became the discount double-check demon of the arc this season. Novak led the league in three-point percentage, and the Knicks would love to have him back. But it won’t be easy to match the money he could make elsewhere. Popular thought is that any offer for more than $3 million a year could convince him to leave, meaning it may take a discount to get the double-check man back in Gotham. 

Landry Fields also presents a complicated situation. The Knicks hold his Bird rights, but still have to worry about exceeding the luxury tax threshold should Lin and Smith return.* That means New York would only be able to offer and match a contract up to $3 million. Prior to the playoffs, Fields looked primed to earn much more than that, but a lackluster postseason hurt his market value. Look for him to accept the Knicks’ qualifying offer and provide much-needed depth at shooting guard.

The last player the Knicks will look to resign is Jared Jeffries. Already locked into a clear role and with limited demand for his services, Jeffries to return should be back and earning the veteran’s minimum.

*There is still some debate between the league and the players union over Bird rights, which allow players to resign with their team without worrying about the salary cap. Depending on how this plays out, the Knicks could conceivably keep Lin and Novak and still have the mid-level exception available. If New York stays under the $74 million luxury tax threshold, that exception would be worth $5.0 million. But if they were to sign Fields and Smith, they would be over the threshold and the exception would fall to $3.0 million. It's a complicated debate with major implications for the Knicks' decisions on who to keep.

What to do in the NBA Draft?

The Houston Rockets own the Knicks’ first round pick this year, thanks to the ill-fated 2009 trade for Tracy McGrady. But this is a deep draft, and their second-round pick might still yield some talent.

As the offseason unfolds, the Knicks’ needs will become apparent. If JR Smith leaves, New York will look to add a shooting guard. Memphis’ Will Barton, IUPUI’s Alex Young or Fairfield’s Rakim Sanders could fill that role.

Should he return, the focus then becomes finding a small forward to spell Carmelo Anthony. The dream is that Syracuse’s Kris Joseph falls to the 48th slot. He would give Carmelo the spurts of rest he needs, as well as help push him up to power forward when Stoudemire needs a break. Pull that off, and the Knicks would gain a good measure of toughness and offensive creativity. 

Don’t rule out New York purchasing another second round pick, too. They did it to acquire Josh Harrelson and Jerome Jordan, and it would help add some depth.

Prediction: Knicks draft small forward Kris Joseph at 48 and buy an additional second round pick so they can draft point guard Malik Wayns 

Trades, free agency and development

Let’s get this out of the way first. There is no chance that the Knicks part with Stoudemire. He has an uninsurable contract that looks worse by the day thanks to a balky back, teetering knees and an eye injury, and New York has already used up its amnesty clause. 

Toney Douglas, on the other hand, is very likely to be traded. Douglas’ value fell precipitously this year, partly because of a shoulder injury that helped bury him on the depth chart. Look for him to be dealt for a role player or a second-round pick. 

Coach Mike Woodson has always preferred veterans over younger players, so the Knicks will likely try to find an experienced point guard to back up Lin. The likes of Kirk Hinrich, Johnny Flynn, A.J. Price or Gary Neal could fill that role, with Hinrich getting the advantage due to a past history with Woodson. Others to consider are Raymond Felton and Andre Miller, depending on the kinds of offers they command from others. 

As far as the back end of the bench, Bill Walker could join the Knicks for the league minimum. The team might also try to beef up down low by adding Marcus Camby, Aaron Gray or Jamaal MaGloire. Power forwards Kenyon Martin, Reggie Evans and Troy Murphy could also be good fits.

Prediction: Toney Douglas is traded, Kirk Hinrich, Marcus Camby and Bill Walker are signed

Final Projected Roster

PG: Jeremy Lin, Kirk Hinrich and Malik Wayns

SG: Landry Fields, JR Smith and Iman Shumpert (upon returning from injury)

SF: Carmelo Anthony, Kris Joseph and Bill Walker

PF: Amar’e Stoudemire, Jared Jeffries and Josh Harrelson

C: Tyson Chandler, Marcus Camby and Jerome Jordan

The roster would be balanced, affordable and have plenty of talent on paper. It will still take some ingenuity from Woodson to make those pieces fit, but the potential is there. While leadership, injuries and fights over playing time always loom large over the Knicks, as long as Anthony and Stoudemire can co-exist, the team should be ready to battle for a top four seed. 

James Epstein is a contributor to Began in '96.