Entering the 2014-15 season, the New York Knicks wanted nothing to do with Andrea Bargnani. The power forward had barely contributed and yet was one of the three biggest salary cap hits on the roster. They only achieved a Tyson Chandler trade. Entering the 2015 trade deadline the Knicks still wanted nothing to do with Bargnani, but were forced to buyout Amar'e Stoudemire instead. Bargnani will now finish the season out with the Knicks, but could he actually be favored for the future as well?
The Knicks are playing without their leading scorer in Carmelo Anthony who is out for the rest of the season. That means the pressure falls on other roster players to step up and be the offensive production the Knicks need. Bargnani is supposed to be one of those players. Team president Phil Jackson did all he could to try and trade away the forward but interest was non-existent. Now the Knicks are hopeful Bargnani can step up to the challenge.
"Well he has the skill set and the versatility to do those things," head coach Derek Fisher said, via Newsday.com. "Whether he can average the same amount of points (as Anthony,) we'll see. He's capable of it. I think if he can stay healthy and just continue to get a comfort out on the floor again, playing basketball, competing hard every night, the physical and mental grind that exists in doing that - which is different when you haven't done that for a year, which is basically what it's been for him. He's shown some flashes though that he can, but we don't want to put that kind of pressure on him. We want our team to figure out how to make up for guys who aren't with us anymore, or right now."
If Bargnani can have some success with the Knicks this season in place of Anthony, a contract extension could be an option. The Knicks are planning to chase players like Greg Monroe and Marc Gasol and also have depth with players like Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson. However, Fisher likes what Bargnani has to offer. If the forward excepts a smaller deal, New York could still be in his future.
Jose Calderon is expected to be out at the end of the year if the Knicks can get the trade they want. Goran Dragic and Reggie Jackson are still in the free agency plans. Another player in need of success to stay put is Tim Hardaway Jr who is also carrying the scoring load. There will be a lot of decisions in the future of the Knicks that will not be easy. How players respond this year could dictate their futures moving forward.
