The New York Knicks are heading into an extremely important season for the future of the franchise, as they are coming off of a 50-plus win year with a division title and depending on what happens, star Carmelo Anthony can become a free agent during the summer.
The Knicks can sign their star to an extension, but if that doesn't happen it will be a story that hangs over the team all year and that may be why they are willing to let their star build the team in the future. According to Hoopsworld, Anthony may have the chance to be the man who decides what the team brings in 2015, as the Knicks will have the cap space and the money to spend big. The article speculates that Anthony would be given major input like Dwyane Wade did with the Miami Heat as a way for the Knicks to keep Anthony from thinking about the Lakers, Heat, or Chicago Bulls or any other team in free agency.
The article says that Anthony knows the deal about 2015 and that he will be able to pick who he plays alongside heading into that season. The team signed players to contracts to keep the books open heading into 2015, including on J.R. Smith and Raymond Felton, who have player options, while Pablo Prigioni has a contract that is non-guaranteed for 2015-16. The team has under $14 million committed for that season and there are a number of names that could be on the market, including LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph and Rajon Rondo among other players.
The Knicks might be able to add one of two of those players and with Anthony getting older, he will be looking to win a championship if he hasn't done so by then. The Knicks made some moves that will get them closer this year, but it is likely that the Heat or Bulls will come out of the East this season, meaning it won't be until that season anyway that the Knicks will get their chance.
Anthony has proved that he is one of the best scorers in the league, but he needs to learn how to play better with certain players and if he gets the chance to pick the team, he likely will pick players he knows he can play with and win with. The Knicks are coming into this season after being ranked 11th in offense and seventh in points per game and Mike Woodson is hoping to improve on both ends of the floor.