There are several players auditioning for roles with the New York Knicks for 2015 and beyond. The Knicks have a lot of money to spend in free agency this summer, but some of that could be used to retain players should they excel with this season wrapping up. Some players are taking advantage of the opportunity and some are not. As Jose Calderon remains on the bench and on thin ice, Andrea Bargnani is proving he deserves to stick around.
A year ago Bargnani was good as gone. The power forward was inked to one of the biggest contracts on the team and the Knicks were desperate to deal him. Nothing presented itself and Bargnani started the season injured on the bench. Team president Phil Jackson tried once again to deal Bargnani at the trade deadline and nothing came from it. So instead, the forward has been taking advantage of being healthy and playing extended minutes which has several people thinking he deserves to stick around.
According Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, there is a real chance that Bargnani gets re-signed in the offseason. The forward would not get as big of a contract as he first earned with the team, but he could get a spot on the roster, something Bargnani has been advocating for. Head coach Derek Fisher told the media that he is not sure what will happen with Bargnani, but the forward is doing everything he can to prove he should stay.
"He's an extremely talented player. The injuries have really limited his ability to reach his ceiling or get closer to it. So whatever the future holds in that regard, I think the way he's finishing this season is not only showing us, but also showing other teams as well, that he's a very capable player still at this point in his career," Fisher said, via ESPN.com. "I think he's trying to prove that to everyone, including us."
While Bargnani is taking advantage of the audition role, Calderon is not. The point guard is done for the season after barely seeing the court this year dealing with calf issues the whole time. According to the New York Post, Jackson is not committed to Calderon and never truly was. The team president admitted he was disappointed a trade did not present itself during the deadline, but fans can be one will this offseason.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Knicks are making players like Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic and potentially Brandon Jennings a priority in free agency which Calderon is good as gone. The point guard is not the elite player the Knicks want and with Langston Galloway excelling, the team does not need Calderon.