Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul (Photo : Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are officially eliminated in the playoff race this week. Despite the emergence of Kristap Porzingis as a future cornerstone of the franchise, it's clear the Knicks have a lot of job to do in the offseason for them to be back in the postseason picture.
Like all season long, Carmelo Anthony's future with the Knicks is hanging in the balance. Again, there's high possibility he played his last season in the Big Apple with the Knicks front-office looking for ways to salvage a great haul by trading the All-Star small forward this summer.
It won't be surprising at all if Phil Jackson revisits the three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics that collapsed two months ago allegedly because of Anthony's power to veto any trade involving him. But with the Knicks missing the postseason for a third time, Melo might ultimately consider leaving New York for a better shot at the title.
-Jeremy Lin disclosed that his agent tried to reach out with the Knicks for a potential reunion. Unfortunately, the Knicks turned down a Linsanity comeback in New York, as they weren't interested in the guard who is coming off one of his worst season in Los Angeles.
Seven months after, the 27-year old Lin has become one of the best point guards off the bench, averaging at least 12 points, 3 dimes and 3 boards per game while doing all kinds of utility stuffs for the Charlotte Hornets. With the impact he made this year, many analysts project Lin to get a handsome pay hike this offseason.
-Arron Afflalo could potentially leave the Knicks after this season as tension between him and interim head coach Kurt Rambis continues to grow. Rambis has benched Afflalo in favor of Sasha Vujacic the last few games because of his lack of activity on the defensive end of the floor.
"There's no thought about putting him back in it,'' Rambis told New York Post. "It's something he'll have to adjust to and figure it out and provide what I know he can provide."
Afflalo can opt out from the second year of his deal that will pay him $8 million, making him a free-agent again after this season.
