The New York Knicks enjoyed their best season in a long time, getting to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they fell to the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks were known for three things this season: Carmelo Anthony's outstanding campaign, 3-point shooting and a roster older than fire.
Head coach Mike Woodson employed a beautiful strategy of playing Anthony at the power forward spot. It caused matchup havoc for the opposition, but against bruising teams, like the Pacers, it can burn them.
Most of the age on this roster resided in the front line. Rasheed Wallace retired, Kurt Thomas was waived, but Marcus Camby is still around. Amare Stoudemire is unreliable due to injury, so it would make sense for the Knicks to go with size with the 24th pick.
Rudy Gobert is a French project whose 9-foot-7 standing reach was a combine record (wow!). He's 7-2 but thin. New York can gamble a little since this pick probably won't play much.
If they want to go with a more natural lineup, North Texas sophomore Tony Mitchell is a conventional power forward.
Jason Kidd retired and is the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Pablo Prigioni cracked the starting lineup by year's end, but he's hedged on returning next season. So, backup point guard could be an option with Miami's Shane Larkin.
Players Under Contract: F: Carmelo Anthony; C: Tyson Chandler; G: Raymond Felton; G: Iman Shumpert; F/C: Amar'e Stoudemire; C: Marcus Camby; F: Steve Novak; F: James White; G: J.R. Smith (player option)
Free Agents: G: Pablo Prigioni (restricted); F: Chris Copeland (restricted); F: Kenyon Martin; F: Quentin Richardson
Draft History:
2012: Kostas Papanikolaou (48)
2011: Iman Shumpert (17)
2010: Andre Rautins (38), Landry Fields (39)
2009: Jordan Hill (8)
2008: Danilo Gallinari (6)
Draft picks: 1st round (24th overall)
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