New York Knicks (Photo : Getty Images)
The New York Knicks could be heading into a major roster shakeup, with the team facing concerns over the uncertainty of keeping their own free agents this summer.
The Knicks are approaching the offseason with plenty of things to consider. One of the many concerns the team would address is the need to acquire key players in this summer's free agency, but the Knicks may have to start assessing their own free agents first before raiding the market in July.
New York have several pending free agents in their roster, which include Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams and Langston Galloway.
Both Afflalo and Williams signed with the Knicks last summer on two-year deals that have player options in the final term of the contract. But with the NBA's new television deal set to kick in and give teams a boost in salary cap space leading to more lucrative offers, both players are expected to opt out of their contract with the Knicks.
Many have criticized the Knicks for signing Williams on a $9 million deal, touting the former No. 2 overall pick as overpaid. But in New York's losing season, Williams was one of the few players in the team's roster who perform well, exceeding expectations for the most part of the season.
On the other hand, Afflalo is likely to be on his way out of the Big Apple amid the disagreement between the wingman and interim head coach Kurt Rambis.
Rambis moved Afflalo out of the Knicks' starting lineup, but the 30-year-old does not see himself to be a reserve. Afflalo has a player option of $8 million next season and given the situation, he is likely to look for another team, where he can play on a starting role.
Meanwhile, unlike the other two pending free agents, Galloway's future with the Knicks will depend whether the team would like to keep him for the next season. The 24-year-old point guard has a team option worth $980,431, and given how the Knicks' season went, they would probably look for other options at backup point guard.
"It's been a great experience being here," Galloway said, reports Basketball Insiders. "I'm definitely excited to see what happens the rest of the summer. I think I've showcased what I can do, and I think the Knicks have seen what I can do. I'm just going to try and improve my game."
With the Knicks failing to reach the playoffs for the third-consecutive year, expect them to make some overhaul in their roster this summer whether it would be via free agency or trade.
