The NY Knicks have been an active team this offseason and after trading Wayne Ellington, the team may try and move Pablo Prigioni over names like Iman Shumpert, JR Smith, Shane Larkin and Amar'e Stoudemire and this comes as the team may not sign draft pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo, as they have a full roster after the Kings trade and now he could play in the D-League or in Europe.
The Knicks have been shopping a number of players this offseason in deals, including Shumpert and Smith as well as Ellington and they were able to get a deal with the Sacramento Kings for him and Jeremy Tyler. The team added Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw, but the move did not exactly do what the team needed, as they got some depth and help in an area they wanted, but the contract situations may leave Antetokounmpo out of NY this season.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Knicks may not be able to sign Antetokounmpo unless they made another move, as they have Outlaw back on a guaranteed contract after trading Ellington's away, while Acy is unguaranteed, but so was Tyler. Basically the team did a good job position wise, but they are in the same boat when it comes to the roster spots and the contracts. The contract for Acy will be guaranteed next week and that means the Knicks have to figure out what they want to do with the roster and with Antetokounmpo.
The team drafted Antetokounmpo and Cleanthony Early in the draft and they see Early as an option to backup Carmelo Anthony. Phil Jackson already traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton for Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert along with Shane Larkin and the team may look at trading one of their guards to break things up. The team likes the potential of Antetokounmpo, but Steve Mills and Phil Jackson want to make sure they have a flexible and solid roster and now there may not be room for him.
The Knicks reportedly are open to trading Prigioni, as they likely want to keep the younger Larkin over him as a backup for Calderon. Last season Prigioni played in 66 games and averaged three points and three assists, so it's not like the team would be losing much if they dealt him. The team could try and move him for a player with an unguaranteed contract to sign Antetokounmpo, but that may mess with the position rotation the team set up.
Last season the Knicks went 37-45 and missed the playoffs following a division title and a 50-win performance the year before and now they are looking to bounce back in 2014. The team opened the season 3-13 last year and could not pull out of it and now they have Carmelo Anthony back and are working on building back the franchise with Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher. The Knicks ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game last season, but they were just 20th in points per game, 27th in rebounds and 28th in assists per game and must improve on those numbers ot get back into the playoffs.
