The New York Knicks are planning to be aggressive in free agency, but will not get everyone on their list. The Knicks are currently holding on to the No. 29 spot in the NBA which is not the worst record in the league which means they might not get that No. 1 draft pick everyone has been holding out for. The Knicks could potentially land to No. 6 in the draft which is why team president Phil Jackson is planning on making several moves in free agency as a backup plan.
According to the New York Post, the Knicks are hoping to land Kevin Love in free agency as there is growing speculation the forward will opt out of his Cleveland Cavaliers contract. However, according to Love that is not happening. The forward's tenure with the Cavaliers has certainly been a rocky one as the team prepares to enter the playoffs, but testing the free agent pool is not something he is looking for right now which could have the Knicks altering their plans.
I think that we will figure it out here, so I don't plan on opting out or any of that," Love said, via Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I plan on being here. As far as leaving my options open, I mean sure, it's always there. At the end of the day, it's always good to have something. But no, I plan on being here. I'm a Cleveland Cavalier"
The Knicks could face the same results with Rajon Rondo. The team wants an elite point guard, but every other franchise is also looking at Rondo including his current team, the Dallas Mavericks. All of this factors in to the Knicks free agency plans and who they will target in the NBA Draft. According to the Post, Jackson likes backup plans like Goran Dragic and Greg Monroe while hinting that Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns could be top draft picks, but if the team does not have the No. 1 overall selection, they need other options.
Andrew Harrison and Jerian Grant sit at the top of the point guard position, but Jackson told ESPNNewYork.com that he wants a top defender in the draft to replace players like Tyson Chandler who left a big hole on the court with his departure. Willie Cauley-Stein and Frank Kaminsky will top prospects and around when the Knicks make a selection. With several strong point guard options in free agency, getting a power forward or center might be the move the Knicks make in the first round of the draft.
