Schmeelk: How Should The Knicks Complete Their Roster?
By John Schmeelk
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With NBA training camps opening in September, the Knicks have a lot of time to complete their roster. They still have a lot of work to do to make this roster deep enough to compete over an 82-game NBA season.
Here's a breakdown of the current players on the roster:
Point guard: Jose Calderon
Combo guards: Jerian Grant, Langston Galloway
Wings: Arron Afflalo, Cleanthony Early, Ricky Ledo
Forwards: Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Williams, Kyle O'Quinn, Lance Thomas, Lou Amundson
Center: Robin Lopez
Galloway and Ledo are on partially guaranteed contracts. The former is definitely going to be back, but the latter is no sure thing. The Knicks have room for two more players on their roster if both partially guaranteed players are retained. They still have their $2.8 million room exception to use to find the player that best fits their needs. The other one will have to be a veteran minimum deal.
The Knicks' top priority needs to be finding a wing who can score off the bench. Ledo and Early can both score a little bit, but both still require significant development. Neither would be rotational players on a good team. That leaves only Afflalo as someone who can play shooting guard or swing over to small forward if the team wants to play small with Anthony at power forward.
As expected, at this point in free agency the pickings are slim. Willie Green's name has been bantered about as a decent fit. He is 33 years old, but can hit the three and has averaged between 15 and 20 minutes per game for most of his career. He has a career three-point percentage of about 35 percent.
Caron Butler is 35 and could be a decent fit as a one-year stopgap. Dorrell Wright could be an option as a three-point shooter at SF. Former Michigan product Glenn Robinson might be an option, but he was a flop as a second-round pick last year. Landry Fields fits the position profile and would fit the triangle, but he is destined for a career in Europe. Marcus Thornton could have worked as instant offense, but he recently signed in Italy. K.J. McDaniels re-signed with the Rockets for more than the Knicks could offer.
Stephen Curry's little brother, Seth, shined in the summer league, but he would fall into the point guard or combo guard category, something the Knicks already have plenty of. If he is one of the most talented players left unsigned, he might be worth a look when all is said and done as a developmental player.
The bottom line is that no one available could significantly move the needle for the Knicks, so they might be better off just bringing in some youth that might develop into something. It might also mean that they are destined to play Anthony at small forward this year, with so few options on the wing.
Another priority should be finding a true backup center. Though players like O'Quinn and Amundson can move to center in a pinch, they are really power forwards. Though Porzingis played some center in the summer league, he won't be able to physically handle that position in the NBA just yet.
There aren't a lot of centers left on the free-agent market, but Kevin Seraphin would be a nice addition to the roster at the center position. He is only 25 and has flashed some potential as a former first-round pick, averaging six points and three rebounds in 15 minutes a game last year. He should be a prime target.
The other center who would be a solid defensive option down low is Jeff Withey, who was offered a qualifying offer by the Pelicans before it was rescinded shortly after free agency began. He can rebound and defend at 7-foot- and 235 pounds, and would be a solid defensive backup behind Robin Lopez.
Darrell Arthur is more of a power forward, but his length would also give the Knicks some more depth up front. His would play the same position as Porzingis, and even to some extent Amundson and O'Quinn, but if he is the most talented guy left out there he should be a target regardless.
Maurice Ndour is another option in the front court. A standout in the summer league with a nice mid-range touch and long active arms, he is probably too small to play center at 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds, but he could be added depth at power forward. The Knicks mentioned him as a training camp invite, but seemed hesitant to offer him a guaranteed contract.
There are no heroes walking through the door, but the Knicks needs to use their remaining roster spots wisely. They can use them to add more young talent and try to develop them, or bring in veterans to help supplement depth and win this year. Right now they only have nine players with legitimate NBA talent -- I consider Thomas, Amundson, Early and Ledo fringe NBA players -- and they need to add depth to be ready when the inevitable injury big strikes the roster. Phil Jackson's work still isn't done.
You can follow me on Twitter @schmeelk for everything Knicks, Giants and the world of sports.
