KNICKS BIG FAVES FOR NOAH
Chicago big man likely joining Rose in New York
ORLANDO, Fla. — Knicks president Phil Jackson left the sweaty gym after the Knicks’ first summerleague practice wearing a white straw hat. Now it’s time for the Zen Master to put on his recruiting hat — the one for which owner James Dolan paid him $60 million.
The period to begin wooing free agents begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, and the Knicks have glaring needs — a starting center, starting shooting guard and backup point guard — in the fallout of the risky Derrick Rose blockbuster. They have only five players under contract, and coach Jeff Hornacek said his message to brass is: “Phil and Steve, get us some good players.”
Hornacek said a defensive center is a higher priority than shooting guard and that is why Bulls freeagent center and native New Yorker Joakim Noah is the apple of Jackson’s eye. The Post reported there is mutual interest and the Knicks have clearly emerged as strong favorites.
The Wizards have interest, but the Washington Post reported Wednesday night Noah is expected to choose New York with a starting salary that could be $18 million, even though formal negotiations haven’t begun. The Vertical reported Wednesday night the Knicks and Noah are working on setting up a meeting for just after midnight, and Rose said last week he had already started recruiting his former Bulls teammate. It was previously reported Noah would not make his decision based on the highest bidder.
Depending on which of their own free agents they keep cap holds on, Jackson and general manager Steve Mills will have $30 million-plus in cap space. If the Knicks renounce the rights to Derrick Williams, which may be prudent if the bidding is too high, the Knicks would have nearly $35 million in cap space.
Still, salaries are skyrocketing, so $35 million doesn’t buy you as much as it once did.
The pie-in-the-sky Kevin Durant scenario has been nothing but “a pipe dream,” as one source called it last week. The Knicks aren’t one of the six teams to have scheduled a meeting with Durant, who is meeting with teams in the Hamptons, and they have known their place for some time.
The Knicks have a solid list of shooting guards they like — it’s all about who they want to afford. Hornacek said the bulk of money would be better appropriated toward center because 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzngis is pegged as power forward due to his weight and experience.
“They’ re both pretty important,’’ Hornacek said of his team’s openings in the starting lineup. “Definitely we need an experienced big in there. The two-guard probably should be able to find someone. We have enough scorers. We need a guy at the two-spot who can help run the offense, get kickout 3s.
“We don’t necessarily need a two-guard who can create a bunch of plays because we should have enough guys able to do that. So when you look at it that way, maybe the [center] may be a little bit more important of a position right now,”
It’s not a bad crop of big men, but sources have indicated center Dwight Howard isn’t high on the Knicks’ list, considering the king’s ransom he will want, and the club feels Al Horford wants to play power forward. If a Noah deal falls through, Toronto’s emerging shot-blocker Bismack Biyombo is on the list and has the same agent as Rose, who already has made a recruiting pitch to Noah. Biyombo lifted his stock in the playoffs. By adding a legit center, the loss of Robin Lopez — dealt away in the Rose deal — won’t be felt.
“You got to play defense and I thought we were OK [last season], middle of the pack,’’ Hornacek said. “We’ll try to bump that up to top10 defensively using the length of Kristaps and add another big out there — two long guys who can cover a lot of ground.’’
On a cheaper scale, if somehow Noah doesn’t happen, former Knicks 7-1 block of granite Timofey Mozgov and Indiana’s Ian Mahinmi are also intriguing.
Atlanta’s Kent Bazemore is high on the Knicks’ list of shooting guards, but price may be an issue as he’s seeking at least $16 million to start. Veteran Courtney Lee, the ever-improving ex-Net, could come cheaper and is well-liked in the organization.
According to a source, the Knicks have interest in injury-prone Eric Gordon, too. Rose wouldn’t mind seeing Gordon get to New York. They played AAU ball together in Chicago and are friends.
Boston’s Evan Turner, Orlando’s Evan Fournier (restricted), Oklahoma City’s Dion Waiters (restricted) and the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford are also on the radar. Restricted free agent Bradley Beal of the Wizards appears unrealistic because the Wizards probably will match any offer.
If Dwyane Wade is really entertaining offers, Carmelo Anthony’s 34-year-old buddy could be worth a one-year deal.
Last summer’s free agency was hardly a Jackson bonanza and now he has to fiddle with his own free agents. Jackson wants to re-sign Lance Thomas, Kevin Seraphin and Williams. Williams will be recruited by at least the Lakers and Suns, according to a source.