One position taking priority for the New York Knicks in the offseason is the point guard position. After getting no production from Jose Calderon following a trade from the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks are looking at all options to put an elite player next to Carmelo Anthony. The star is preparing to help recruit once free agency begins as he prefers a veteran point guard over an incoming rookie.
With a top five draft pick and around $30 million in salary cap space to work with, the Knicks have plenty of options this offseason. According the New York Post, team president Phil Jackson likes the idea of drafting a rookie defender while Anthony wants a veteran in at the point guard position.
"I think with younger point guards now coming out of college, that position is a little tougher to come in and be effective right away," Anthony said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "The guards in this league that we have right now is out of this world. They're at the top of their game right now. It's kind of every team, every night, day in and day out so you have to be physically ready for that and mentally ready for that. So I think from that position it's a little more of a learning curve than it is at any other position. Not saying that the guards that's coming out this year can't come in and be effective and be ready but that's the toughest position right now in our NBA so it will be a little bit of a learning curve."
According to ESPN's Ian Begley, Anthony will be recruiting Rajon Rondo heavily in the upcoming offseason as the point guard is expected to leave the Dallas Mavericks for free agency. Despite his issues with the coaching staff, Rondo's value on the open market has not dropped and the Knicks are making it clear he is their favorite. If Rondo is not available, players like Goran Dragic or perhaps a trade for Brandon Jennings could be in the works.
The future of Calderon does not include the Knicks. According to the New York Daily News, the point guard wants to return to the Knicks and be a part of the rebuilding process. However, Jackson has never been committed to Calderon since acquiring him in Dallas. Jackson admitted he was disappointed he could not trade the point guard during the middle of the season and with players like Langston Galloway coming on strong and other big-contract names like LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Monroe also being targeting, Calderon is likely gone.
