Position battles will run wild during training camp for the New York Knicks. As Carmelo Anthony continues to deny the idea that he will be traded or is unhappy with the franchise, the focus becomes who will play alongside him in 2015. With questions surrounding the point guard position and the development of Kristaps Porzingis, who is the best starting five for Derek Fisher to work with in the upcoming year?
The biggest question for the Knicks is the starting point guard spot. Jose Calderon was signed to be the starter, but injuries prevented that from happening last year. As his name continues to shift around in trade rumors, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com believes he will remain with the team and be the starter, at least for the first half of the season. Ian Begley of ESPN.com bounced off that report by saying no trade for Calderon is expected before the season starts, but if big names become available at the mid-season deadline, the Knicks will take a look. Anthony likes what he sees out of Calderon as he plans to battle it out with Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant.
"Jose is a smart point guard, a smart guy. He's been around, he's played a lot of games, he knows how to run a team, he knows how to run an offense, especially an offense like this," Anthony said, via the New York Post. "He can shoot the ball, he can spread the court. But most importantly, his IQ out there on the basketball court is very high and that's something at that position we've been missing."
Calderon is skating on thin ice entering the 2015 season. He must show improvement or he will immediately be placed back on the trade block as Phil Jackson eyes players like Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio or Eric Bledsoe if they become available. Galloway is also not guaranteed anything despite his breakout season last year.
The other question for the Knicks is how responsibility to give Porzingis moving forward. The rookie will be battling Derrick Williams for the starting job. Right now, Anthony, Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez are penciled in as guaranteed starters, and the case can be made for both Porzingis and Williams. The rookie has been getting in offseason work with Anthony which could help build his case. It also helps that Jackson is a huge supporter of Porzingis and might want to start the rookie just to prove he was right in drafting him. The Knicks have their work cut out for them as they enter a critical season.