The New York Knicks were officially eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday after the Atlanta Hawks sealed the eighth and final playoff seed out in the East, and now the team has to plan for the off-season.
According to Marc Berman of NY Post, Knicks president Phil Jackson is inclined to grind through the next season and wait for another year before the multi-million dollar contracts of Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler expire. By 2015, the Knicks would have enough salary cap space to chase free agents.
The 2015 free agent class is deep, with stars like Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, Tony Parker, Paul Millsap, Roy Hibbert, Goran Dragic, DeAndre Jordan and Marc Gasol as free agents. There could also be a possibility that Heat stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade could join that class if they don't opt out this summer.
Berman quoted Jackson as saying recently: "There's no doubt that projecting ahead, this year's free agent crew, we're not particularly in the running. Not a great crop coming this particular year. But [2015] does have a group of guys together. (General manager) Steve (Mills) and I are going to work to manage the roster, our financials, so we can have an impact in that area.''
Of course, Jackson has to re-sign franchise star Carmelo Anthony, who will be missing the playoffs for the first time in his career.
Coaching is another area that Jackson has to decide on, with rumors ripe that Woodson is on his way out and that Jackson's former Chicago Bulls player Steve Kerr the likely replacement.
What should be the Knicks's priorities in the offseason? Tell us @SportsWN.
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