The New York Knicks have a lot of money committed to three players next season meaning at least one of them might not be on the roster come the 2014 season. Tyson Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani are all big cap hits next year and as Phil Jackson begins to clean house, someone is going to be on the outside looking in. With Carmelo Anthony's contract extension a priority, is Chandler the biggest trade bait on the team?
Stoudemire is owed $23 million next year. Chandler is owed $14 million while Bargnani is owed $11 million. Of those three contracts, Chandler's is the easiest to take on consider he will simply be a one-year rental before he hits free agency in 2015. While Stoudemire's recent resume is not impressive, Chandler's is equally as awful. The center has struggled with injuries and inconsistencies over the past two seasons, no longer looking like the shut-down defensive player he once was. Pair that with his recent request for a move and Chandler might want to start looking elsewhere.
"I definitely don't want to waste another season,'' Chandler said, via the New York Post. "I don't want to waste this season. I'm not into wasting seasons. Your time is too short in this league and I want to win a championship, another one. I'm not into wasting seasons. That decision isn't going to be in my hands."
Jackson told reporters that he is prepared to move on without Anthony, but would ideal like to re-sign the forward in order to attract other players to New York. Without Anthony, joining a roster of Stoudemire, Chandler and Bargnani is not that enticing. In order to get Anthony a Chandler trade is a must.
"I'm all about moving forward," Jackson said, via the New York Daily News. "Just deal with what is and move forward. If it's in the cards, man, are we fortunate. If it's not in the cards, man, are we fortunate. We're going forward anyway."
Several teams could be landing spots for Chandler. The Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers could be favorable options for the center. Los Angeles could certainly be intriguing considering Pau Gasol is preparing to jump ship. Could New York and Los Angeles do a simple player swap? Gasol has said he is open to joining New York and reuniting with Jackson, but the Knicks might not be able to afford him if they are getting rid of Chandler for financial reasons.
All of the Knicks moves are mere speculation. Jackson is certainly giving off the impression that he is in a "take no prisoners" mindset. Either players are on board with the changes or they are not.
