The New York Knicks continue to search for the right players to put around Carmelo Anthony this season. The franchise star is the key to the team's bounce back year and the Knicks remain uncertain if they have the best players to complement his style. As consistency remains an issue for the Knicks, the trading period could see some new faces from to New York as Kristaps Porzingis gives the veteran a lot of credit for carrying the team.
Head coach Derek Fisher is trying to build the right starting five to give Anthony the best shot at thriving this year. That worked on Saturday when he put up 27 points and seven rebounds against the Chicago Bulls. Fisher credited it to Anthony being more comfortable with his teammates including Porzingis and Arron Afflalo. Porzingis made it clear that right now Anthony is guiding the ship for the Knicks while Fisher hopes he has finally found a rotation that works for the star and the rest of the team.
"Great players always appreciate and enjoy having guys on the floor that can make plays," Fisher said, via ESPN.com. "... Guys like him believe that they can carry the whole thing, so the more guys you add that can take some pressure off, I think the better off we are."
The Knicks are also benefiting from a solid reserves unit that includes an improving Langston Galloway and Lance Thomas. That has pushed other veterans like Derrick Williams and Kyle O'Quinn to the sides while making them trade bait moving forward. According to ESPN's Ian Begley, the Knicks are looking for another shooter to help the offense moving forward and someone could be traded as a result. The Knicks are getting linked to everyone from Brandon Jennings and Kevin Martin to Jamal Crawford who are all reportedly available.
Begley reports that the Knicks have no interest in trading for someone that will factor into their salary cap situation next year. The Knicks should have a good bit of money to spend in the offseason as they plan on targeting everyone from Kevin Durant to Mike Conley and Andre Drummond. That means the team wants expiring contracts only. Crawford, Jennings and Martin all fit that description while being relatively inexpensive to acquire. For now, Anthony is hopeful that his calmness on the court helps the Knicks bounce back during the year.
"Me, personally, I'm at a peace with myself right now that there is nothing that can alter me, can get me off my [game],'' Anthony said, via the New York Post. I just feel good about myself whether we win or lose. There's nothing that can take me out of that mindset.''