The New York Knicks are coming into the 2013 draft without too many cards to play after having a solid season that saw the team win over 50 games and they could end up in another tough restricted free agent situation like Jeremy Lin, as Chris Copeland is drawing interest from other teams.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the New Orleans Pelicans are looking to try and sign Copeland to a deal and since he is a restricted free agent, it could put the Knicks in a bind, since their salary cap situation is tight. For anyone that doesn't remember, is sort of what happened with Jeremy Lin, as the Rockets gave him a big offer that the Knicks didn't want to, or couldn't match and now he is with Houston for the next few seasons.
Copeland played well for the Knicks as a rookie and the Pelicans like his athleticism and offensive game, as they feel he is an upgrade over Al-Farouq Aminu, who started this season. Copeland played well inside and outside this past season and the 29-year-old could be in line for a nice deal as the Pelicans try to steal him away. He came out of the Ethias League in Belgium and since the Knicks do not have his Bird rights, it might be tougher to keep him.
The Knicks are already over the tax and since they have other decisions to make while trying to add talent for Carmelo Anthony, the Pelicans see a situation they can take advantage of. The Pelicans have over $4 million in space and they can offer him more than the Knicks cam match and that could get him to their roster. The NY Post reports that he wants a deal near four years, $16 million, which is what Steve Novak got, but the Knicks have limitations due to the cap.
The Knicks can match up to $3.1 million, but the Pelicans easily can best that offer and that may mean he is gone from the team. The Indiana Pacers are also interested in possibly signing him, and that would be a nice little kick from former exec Donnie Walsh to James Dolan.
