Heading into the NBA Draft, Phil Jackson has been busy evaluating the roster of who stays and who goes of the current players. The New York Knicks have the No.4 draft pick they can either use or trade and a lot of that will depend on what Jackson views as the biggest need for the team in terms of a rookie. Jackson has admitted that he is impatient with rebuilding and favors experience over rookies, which current players will be the biggest factors in determining the draft moves this year?
Jackson went on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike to discuss the current state of affairs with the New York Knicks and the team president stated the franchise is perfectly set at both the point guard and small forward position. Obviously Carmelo Anthony headlines the small forward position and after his contract extension, the franchise star is going nowhere. However, there was a lot of doubt at the point guard spot with both Langston Galloway and Jose Calderon on the roster.
Ian Begley of ESPN New York has been following the point guard position of the Knicks. New York has been linked to several options this offseason. The Knicks have the money to sign either Rajon Rondo or Goran Dragic in free agency. They also have a high enough draft pick to get a top rookie in either D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay who have both spoken very highly of the Knicks' franchise. New York could also make trades for players like Eric Bledsoe or Ty Lawson which ESPN's Chad Ford believes is a very real possibility.
It was assumed that Galloway would be back for another year after having a breakout year with the Knicks thanks to injuries. The point guard proved he can be a viable option to start in 2015 after taking hold of the triangle offense and excelling. The question is whether or not "covered" at the point guard spot means Calderon will not be traded. The New York Post reported that Jackson was disappoint guard a deal for Calderon was not found during the mid-season deadline and many believed the veteran would be traded at the start of this offseason. Now that might not be the case.
The Knicks could still draft at those positions, but it likely will not happen with the No.4 pick. Instead, the team could either stay at that spot and select someone like Justise Winslow or Frank Kaminsky or they could deal down, acquire more picks and target someone like Myles Turner or Kevon Looney to help on defense.
