FREE-AGENT FITS
The needs are clear — a starting center to replace Robin Lopez, who was traded in the Derrick Rose deal, and a starting shooting guard to replace Arron Afflalo, who opted out. Phil Jackson made the Rose trade partly because he felt the free-agent depth at those positions was better than at point guard.
Joakim Noah, C
Knicks are desperate for a gritty, defensive center to play alongside Kristaps Porzingis, and the Bulls’ free agent fits the bill and has been a longtime fan of Phil Jackson. His friendship with Derrick Rose and New York City upbringing makes the pieces fit, but his seasonending shoulder surgery in January provides some risk.
Eric Gordon, SG
The 6-foot-4 sharpshooter is injury-prone but has strong ties to Rose from playing AAU ball in the Chicago area. However, Gordon has never played more than 64 games and logged 45 last season for the Pelicans. But he’s quite the marksman — which new coach Jeff Hornacek cherishes — and averaged 15.2 points per game last season. The Rose factor could be huge, too.
Courtney Lee, SG (below)
The well-traveled 6-5 shooting guard is getting better with age, splitting time last season with Memphis and Charlotte while averaging 9.6 points on 45.6 percent shooting. The athletic 30-year-old does everything well — nothing exceptional — and knows the market. He played for the Nets in 2009-10 and the Knicks would be his sixth team. His price tag won’t be as enormous as some other free-agent shooting guards, such as coveted Kent Bazemore.