Despite a third consecutive losing season, the New York Knicks have had some positives.

Kristaps Porzingis has emerged as a franchise caliber talent even though he wore down somewhat in the second half of the season. He’s shown the ability to shoot with range and, with his height and length, his shot is unblockable. Porzingis has also been a good rebounder. Despite concerns with his ability to play defense due to his slight frame, he’s held his own. He’s already a very good shot blocker, especially from the weakside as a help defender. 

The Knicks also remained mostly healthy. Carmelo Anthony is at the point of his career where he is going to be chronically nicked up, but he’s managed to play through it. Robin Lopez and Jose Calderon have also managed to make it through the year unscathed. 

Lastly, the Knicks have rebuilt the value of Derrick Williams, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2011. The contract Williams signed with New York seemed like an overpay last summer, but he’s managed to outperform it. Williams has had his best and most efficient season offensively and his defense has improved from his time with Sacramento. It looked like Williams was potentially headed out of the league and now he’s a valuable reserve.

Unfortunately when the best things to be said about your season are development of a rookie, relative health and rebuilding the value of a former high draft pick, the year probably didn’t come with a good win-loss record.

Derek Fisher was fired as head coach with the Knicks in the middle of a disastrous stretch in mid-January. Kurt Rambis has taken over since and things haven’t gotten much better. The leaves plenty of work to do going forward.

Like many other lottery teams, New York will be looking for a new head coach this summer. There are rumors Rambis could be given the job full time, which has drawn widespread criticism due to his lack of success previously with Minnesota. Luke Walton is a more desirable option given Phil Jackson’s proclivity to hire from his own tree and use the Triangle Offense. Walton was exceptional when he filled in for Steve Kerr with the Warriors this year, but is that Walton’s coaching, or the plug and play nature of the best team in the NBA? Another name mentioned is Brian Shaw, who is a Jackson disciple that struggled with Denver. You can safely bet on the Knicks' next coach being someone with a background in the Triangle.

Overshadowing all other parts of the offseason is whether Carmelo Anthony remains with New York. With one of the few no-trade Clauses in the league, Anthony can control where he plays to a large degree. With Porzingis, the Knicks are better positioned than ever to move on from Anthony. Anthony has repeatedly said he has no desire to leave the Knicks less than two years after re-signing with the team, but his mind could be changed if a trade can deliver him to a true championship contender.

What happens with Anthony will have ramifications on the roster build for next year. If Anthony stays, Phil Jackson will be more inclined to go after pieces that make the Knicks playoff contenders. If Anthony is traded, it signals a full rebuild around Porzingis. The Knicks can make smaller moves to acquire younger talent and rebuild their asset base. The lack of a first round pick this year to finish off the Andrea Bargnani trade is unhelpful, especially since it will be a lottery pick, but it is the last debit on the Knicks ledger for first rounders.

New York hit on Porzingis, but the other first round pick is a question mark. The Knicks acquired Jerian Grant with the hope he would be the big point guard that Jackson likes to have running the offense. Grant’s inability to shoot while playing off the ball has been a problem all year. Because of those struggles, he’s been unable to replace Jose Calderon as the starter. If Carmelo Anthony is moved and Grant is allowed to have the ball in his hands more, which is when he’s most successful, he could break out next year. Tony Wroten was signed late this season to a “make good” contract that is non-guaranteed for next year. Wroten is essentially a more experienced (but surprisingly younger!) version of Grant. He’s flashed playmaking ability in the past, but he’ll have to prove healthy over the summer to have any chance of making the roster next year. 

Joining Porzingis and Grant as younger talent are two free agents to be, Langston Galloway and Derrick Williams. Galloway was a find as a D-League call-up last season. He’s come off the bench this year, after starting most of his games last year. He’s a solid, but unspectacular player. Basically, Galloway is an ideal backup PG. He doesn’t turn it over, he runs the offense and he competes on defense. 

Williams, as covered above, has rebounded in a big way after being labeled a bust. He has a Player Option for next season and seems likely to opt out. With the cap jumping and so much available money around the league, he’ll try to cash in and take advantage of the good year he’s had.

Another potential free agent is Arron Afflalo. Given his recent comments and displeasure with being moved to the bench, he seems likely to decline his Player Option and move on. The remaining free agents are role players and the Knicks are likely to let them go, or they’ll bring them back after the first waves of free agency are complete.

Free agent and trade targets for the Knicks are hard to figure. With enough available cap space to chase a major free agent, New York could be in the mix for several players. Being the Knicks and because of Phil Jackson, they can get meetings with anyone. Whether or not they can close those players is another question.

It seems likely the Knicks will be in the market for a point guard. Rajon Rondo has been a long rumored player that New York has interest in. Veterans like Ty Lawson or Brandon Jennings could be in the mix as well, while Mike Conley is likely an unattainable target. 

The frontcourt, assuming Carmelo Anthony remains, seems fairly set. Lopez and Porzingis are a good pairing at the big positions. Anthony is still playing at a high enough level to be the lead wing scorer. Depth is a bit of an issue. Kyle O’Quinn hasn’t given the team what they hoped, but he remains a good backup. They’d like to have Williams back as well, but he could get priced out fairly quickly. There have been talks of a David Lee return and his passing and previous experience with New York makes him a nice fit as a reserve.

Finally, the SG position remains a hole that needs to be filled. Afflalo is all but a lock to play elsewhere and no one else on the current roster is ready to be a starter. Because their age and ability fits either a rebuild or contender, RFAs like Bradley Beal, Evan Fournier or Allen Crabbe are logical targets. All would give the team the shooting and spacing they lack from that spot. If Anthony is moved, you can add Harrison Barnes to the list of RFAs the Knicks could extend a big, possibly max, offer to. 

Like a lot of lottery teams, New York is stuck in the middle. They have quality veterans who fit in on a playoff team, but those vets are on pricey contracts. And they have plenty of holes to fill. What separates the Knicks from the other lottery teams is that they have a 7’3’’, 20 year old, budding superstar to build around. The Knicks can either add to their current team and make a playoff push. Or they can move Carmelo Anthony and kick off a true rebuild. The biggest city in the NBA universe has been out of the limelight for a few years now. This offseason will have a lot to do with how soon it is before all eyes are back on New York. 

Offseason Details 

Guaranteed Contracts (6): Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant, Robin Lopez, Kyle O’Quinn, Kristaps Prozingis

Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts (1): Tony Wroten 

Potential Free Agents (8): Arron Afflalo (PO – UFA), Lou Amundson (UFA), Cleanthony Early (RFA), Langston Galloway (RFA), Kevin Seraphin (UFA), Lance Thomas (UFA), Sasha Vujacic (UFA), Derrick Williams (PO – UFA)

“Dead” Money on Cap (0): None

First Round Draft Picks: None 

Maximum Cap Space: $30,372,607

Projected Cap Space: $28,591,197