The New York Knicks have been thinking championship since they were able to pull off the trade for Carmelo Anthony and after moving along and improving each season since the deal, the team feels that now it is primed for a title run and with some more additions to make, Tyrus Thomas, Drew Gooden, Mo Williams, Ivan Johnson and Lamar Odom could be free agent options.
The Knicks won over 50 games last season and won their division for the first time in years and after brining back JR Smith and Pablo Prigioni while also dealing for Raptors former number one pick Andrea Bargnani, general manager Glen Grunwald is looking for depth on the market and names like Gooden and Thomas are some of the best options left. Williams could be a solid choice on a minimum deal after the 30-year-old averaged 12.9 points and 6.2 assists per game last season for the Jazz and he could be a good option to spell Raymond Felton at times as well.
The team needs more depth up front and Odom and Tyrus Thomas could be options after the 26-year-old was released by the Bobcats with the amnesty clause. Last season he averaged just 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds for Charlotte, but he is still very young and has solid potential and rebounding skills, something the Knicks could use if they want to bring him in at a cheap price. Thomas played for a team that eon just 28 games over the past two years and that could sway him to sign.
Another under the radar option is Ivan Johnson from the Hawks, as they could get him on the cheap and he is a very good rebounder on the offensive side as well as with blocks on the defensive end. Drew Gooden is another inexpensive option after he was released by the Bucks as part of the amnesty clause since he was making a decent amount of money. Gooden's production has decreased in recent years as he is dealing with injuries, but he could add some solid depth to the Knicks after averaging 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 16 games last season. Gooden averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds during his career and if can play healthy, the Knicks could use him on the bench.
The Knicks already added back Kenyon Martin after he averaged 7.2 points on 60 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds for the team last season and his defense in the paint will be valuable for next year. The team is hoping that he can play more games after appearing in 18 last season and they also now have Metta World Peace in the lineup after his release from the Lakers. World Peace said he may change his name again after joining the Knicks in NYC, but he said that he is keeping it secret for now.
Something not so secret is the fact that NYC wants the Knicks to move Madison Square Garden in 10 years after the team just put in a billion dollar renovation, as the city wants to re-do Penn Station but can't because of the Garden. The team now may have to move in 10 years and find another venue for the Garden.