Jeff Hornacek says Knicks could prioritize center over shooting guard in free agency
ORLANDO, Fla. — There are many moving parts in NBA free agency, so plotting out a plan of action might be a waste of time. But it sounds as though the New York Knicks will enter July 1 hoping to find a center first and then filling out the rest of the roster.
Here’s why: New coach Jeff Hornacek points out that the Knicks have several scorers on the roster (Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Kristaps Porzingis) so they don’t necessarily need a shooting guard who “can create a bunch of plays.”
“We need a guy at the 2 spot who can help run the offense, get maybe some kick out 3s,” Hornacek said Wednesday after the Knicks’ first summer-league practice. “When you look at it that way, maybe the [center is] the more important position right now.”
Most people around the league believe the Knicks’ priority — assuming they don’t land Kevin Durant — is to focus their attention on Chicago Bulls free agent Joakim Noah. There is mutual interest between Noah and the Knicks, according to sources.
But if Noah draws richer offers from other teams, would he be willing to take less money to play in New York? If so, how much less?
This could be a key question for the Knicks.
The club has $30 million to spend in free agency and needs to find a starting center, a shooting guard and to fill out its bench.
If Noah takes up a significant chunk of that $30 million, the club might have a difficult time finding talented players to fill the other roster spots.
Another option at center for New York is Cleveland Cavaliers big man Timofey Mozgov. Members of the organization have expressed interest recently in Mozgov, who is two years younger than Noah and a strong rebounder and rim protector. The Knicks could also look to trade for a center under contract, with Golden State’s Andrew Bogut reportedly available.
New York’s focus isn’t solely limited to big men, of course.
The club also has its eyes on several shooting guards. Before New York acquired Rose, members of its front office had expressed interest in Jordan Clarkson and Evan Fournier, according to sources. Both players are restricted free agents, so the Los Angeles Lakers (Clarkson) and Orlando Magic (Fournier) would have opportunities to match any contract offer sheet that their players signed.
The Knicks have also more recently expressed interest in Courtney Lee, sources confirm.
The players mentioned above are all likely to command contracts worth more than $10 million annually. Fitting that kind of contract in with a deal for Noah, for example, could be a challenge.
All of this assumes, of course, that the Knicks don’t land Durant. That seems highly unlikely at this point. Though the club remains confident it will get an audience with Durant, the Knicks are not currently on the confirmed list of teams with whom he plans to meet.
Of course, Anthony has already spent plenty of time with Durant this week. He has used some of his time with Durant to talk about the benefits of signing in New York. Is it enough to lure Durant? That’s unclear, but also unlikely.
For what it’s worth, some members of the organization expressed confidence earlier in the week that Durant would consider New York. But waiting for an answer from Durant could hinder the Knicks in other ways.
If the club decides to chase Durant and keep the cap space requisite to sign him available, it runs the risk of losing out on other lower-level free agents. One player for whom the Knicks might have competition is Lance Thomas.
Thomas, who played well as a reserve last season in New York, has drawn interest from several teams in recent days, sources say. He’s also the kind of player who — like Al-Farouq Aminu last season — could sign early in free agency with a team that has a ton of available cap space and is eager to spend it.
So he’s the kind of player the Knicks could miss out on if they choose to maintain cap flexibility for Durant.
Phil teaches coaches: Team president Phil Jackson spent some time at the end of the Knicks’ summer-league practice huddled with the coaching staff. Hornacek said he didn’t mind that Jackson stepped on the floor to instruct his staff. Jackson had made it a point to mostly keep his distance from former coach Derek Fisher when the media was in the gym; Wednesday’s appearance didn’t seem to bother Hornacek.
“How many GMs have as many championships [as Phil] and run the offense?” he said when asked if the visit from Jackson was strange. “I don’t think it’s weird at all. Again, it’s basketball. All coaches want to have different thoughts [presented to them]. As you go out there, nobody can expect to know everything. So obviously with Phil’s expertise, seeing this run for years and years, any little hints he can give us will be helpful.”
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Hornacek is expected to officially add Kurt Rambis, Jerry Sichting, Corey Gaines, Howard Eisley, Josh Longstaff and Dave Bliss to his staff. Longstaff and Bliss were assistants under Fisher.
