The NY Knicks may look at a number of targets in free agency next summer and names like Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol, Greg Monroe, Ricky Rubio, LaMarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph all could be on the market when New York tries to spend some cash and Phil Jackson is hoping one or two premier names will join up with Carmelo Anthony next season.
The Knicks have Iman Shumpert heading into free agency and while he will be restricted, there is a chance that he could end up leaving next summer. The Knicks did not work on a contract extension with Shumpert heading into the deadline, as they want to keep the cap as open as possible for next summer. Ian Begley at ESPN.com reported on the Knicks and Shumpert not coming to a contract agreement and now he is headed towards free agency and that means he could leave the team.
Begley wrote last week about Shumpert and the young guard spoke about how he "can't worry" about free agency and that he is concentrating on getting things done this season. Shumpert has shown plenty of promise, but he likely has not earned a lucrative extension and that is one reason why Phil Jackson is waiting to see what happens this summer. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the top Knicks targets likely will be Rajon Rondo, Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol and Aldridge and that is in no particular order.
The New York Post and Pro Basketball Talk have both reported already that the Knicks will go after Gasol and if they only get one player, he likely will be the one. Rondo will be a target no matter how this season goes, as he is a premier point guard and could be a huge addition for the team. Over the past two seasons the Knicks have been mentioned in trade rumors with Rondo, but so have a number of other teams. Rondo will be the top player on the market and he could be demanding quite a bit of money, especially if the Lakers, Knicks and other teams go after him.
Greg Monroe will be a target for teams and he comes in after signing a one year qualifying offer with the Pistons. The Knicks and Lakers both will target him, while Monroe said that he is open to staying in Detroit. Aldridge is going to have suitors, but everyone believes that he will stay in Portland. A couple years ago it looked like a forgone conclusion that Aldridge would leave or get traded, but now that the team has found some success, he likely will stay. Aldridge is an MVP candidate and has turned into one of the best bigs in the league and he will be cashing in.
Rubio will be a restricted free agent and while the Wolves want to keep him, they just got a huge influx of talent with Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. The Knicks will have options for Carmelo Anthony and if they strike out again in free agency, Jackson may look at making some trade deals instead. Of course there is always Kevin Durant in the future, but come on, that's not happening for the Knicks, even with Derek Fisher as head coach.
