The New York Knicks are coming into the regular season with high expectations in NY with Carmelo Anthony coming in and the team may look at trade deals this year to help clear cap space for free agents like Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge and names like Iman Shumpert, Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani or JR Smith could be potential trade targets.
The Knicks have a new triangle offense to put in and Carmelo Anthony will be a big part of it and he has said that he is fine with not being one of the leading scorers in the league. Anthony has been in the top two over the past two seasons, winning the scoring title two years ago, but some have suggested that he will be taking fewer shots now and could decrease his totals. Anthony said that he welcomes the challenge and the new offense could be what pushes the team back into the top of the division.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Phil Jackson likes the makeup of his team and he also praised Iman Shumpert and his defense, saying he is the best player on the ball on the roster right now. ESPN.com and others have suggested that the Knicks may look at trading Shumpert at some point and that comes from the fact that he is headed towards free agency. The Knicks want to keep the cap as open as possible for the next two seasons to build around Carmelo and giving Shumpert an extension could complicate that a bit.
Shumpert is a very solid player and the Knicks likely don't want to trade him, but after getting offers in the past, there is a chance that the team could make a move if they get a good enough deal. Jackson wants to make the team better moving forward and with Shumpert heading towards restricted free agency, the team could take a risk and let him hit the market rather than sign him to an extension before the October deadline. The past couple years have not been kind to many restricted free agents and that could be in the minds of the Knicks as they navigate this with Shumpert.
The Knicks may also look at a deal for Stoudemire at some point and while his money will be off the books anyway once the season ends, the team may want to try and make a deal anyway. The Sixers and Knicks were rumored to be talking about a deal over the summer and that was due to the fact that the Sixers are the only team that can really take on the salary and not get hurt. Philly will be shedding more salary next year and having an expiring deal like Amar'e's would fit into that.
The Knicks won just 37 games last season after winning over 50 the previous year and now they have the chance to bounce back. The team has a new offense with the triangle coming in and they have a new head coach as well. Carmelo Anthony is back and has bought into the system and now the Knicks will try and win the division again after missing the playoffs last year.
