New Knicks Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose (Photo : Ezra Shaw | Getty Images Sport)
The New York Knicks have made their moves in the offseason. At the very least, they will be a different team.
The fans at Madison Square Garden have something to be curious about. They have familiar faces on their roster, only they were wearing red and were usually the bane of the Knicks. Now, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah will start for them.
The NY Post quoted long-time scout Scott McGuire who not only predicted the playoffs for the squad, but pegged them at the top four.
"I think it's terrific," McGuire, who worked for the Heat last season. "Pencil in Cleveland, Toronto ahead of them, maybe Detroit, but Atlanta's day in the sun is over. Derrick Rose, people forget how good he is, Carmelo [Anthony], Kristaps [Porzingis], that's pretty good on paper and off paper. Injuries? You worry about that when the time comes."
He believes that Phil Jackson has put one over his former team, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls, because of their new coach Fred Hoiberg, may have given up on Noah and Rose too soon. Nevertheless, the timing just fits with the Knicks two stars, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
"Anthony is a year older, but Porzingis is a good year older. Maybe Chicago is [giving up on Rose and Joakim Noah] because they're more injured than we're willing to accept, but Phil's too smart. I don't think it can happen. You got to say, 'Wow.' "
Expectations are high for the Knicks and one can argue that this has always been the case. For the past few years, that has always led to disappointment and coaches losing their jobs.
Still there is reason for optimism with new coach Jeff Hornacek, who can run lineups with multiple point guards. They got the personnel as they signed Brandon Jennings. Courtney Lee is also a model of today's trendy "3 and D" player. At the very least, this will be a team that's fast and fun to watch.
The Knicks are capped out and they are most probably out of the running for the free agent surprise of the summer, Dwyane Wade, as ESPN reported.
"The Bucks, like the Knicks and Bulls, don't presently have the requisite salary-cap space to sign Wade," the report stated. The Bulls and Bucks are reportedly willing to make trades to accommodate Wade. Players like Taj Gibson or Greg Monroe could go.
For the Knicks, they don't want-and probably don't need to do that.
