The New York Knicks are busy evaluating players they can bring on to the roster while certain players still with the team wait to hear if they are part of the rebuilding picture of the franchise. The Knicks have the No. 4 draft pick and salary cap space to burn on outside options, but they could find quality players still with the team. Andrea Bargnani is one player that will be a free agent and is hoping Phil Jackson remembers his name when it comes time for a new contract.
Bargnani has been a mixed bag for the Knicks. The forward dealt with injuries for a majority of his time with the team, but came on strong late in the 2014-15 season and ended up being one of the better players as the year finished up. Bargnani proved that when he is healthy, he can truly be a competitor for the team and make a different.
According to the New York Daily News, Bargnani wants to return to the Knicks. Jackson has spoken out in favor of the forward, but most of the team's interest will come if their Plan A options do not work out. Manish Mehta of the Daily News reports that Bargnani could actually see a return to New York, but on a much smaller salary than he originally was earning. With a current cap hold of $17.25 million, the Knicks will renounce the rights to the forward, but how much can they re-sign him for?
According to Bleacher Report, Bargnani could earn a low risk, high reward type of contract for the team. He is a bench player at best, but still fits in to the bigger picture. Realistically, a contract of $2-3 million could be the option for Bargnani. It would be slightly higher than the minimum or mid-level deal, while still not denting the Knicks cap space.
Bargnani is not Plan A for the Knicks, but he could fall into favor if New York fails to get their other options. With the No. 4 pick, the Knicks are looking at power forwards and defenders to bring onto the roster. While Jackson would ideally like to draft players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, they are likely to miss out on both as mock drafts predict they will go in the first two picks. ESPN's Chad Ford reports the Knicks are considering drafting Justise Winslow or Willie Cauley-Stein which could push Bargnani to the backburn.
The Knicks are also eyeing free agent options first like Greg Monroe, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol. If Bargnani is willing to take a smaller contract, his future with the Knicks could be secure.
