New York Knicks: How to build the team in three phases during the offseason

One of the best things about this Knicks roster is that they will potentially have money to spend in free agency. Right now it is unsure how that might play out due to the current pandemic, but there still is a good chance that the Knicks can bring in contributors to fill their needs nonetheless.

There are some ideal point guards and some excellent shooting bigs that are actually up for free agency this year that the Knicks can pursue.

New York Knicks free agency target: Goran Dragic, guard

I was tempted to say Raptors guard Fred VanVleet here, but recently there’s been a lot of speculation that he may only want a short-term deal, and questions about if actually will want to leave Toronto. For those reasons, I think a great point guard candidate for the Knicks is Goran Dragic.

First, off unlike VanVleet, Dragic is an older player who will surely have a cheaper price than money VanVleet might want, but there’s more to it than that. Dragic is a steady-handed veteran point guard with a lot of league experience.

He is a player that just like he was on previous teams in his career can be a mentor to young guards on the Knicks. If needed Dragic can be a starter for Knicks next season, but if a younger guard starts to flourish he wouldn’t mind moving to the bench for that player.

Factor in Dragic’s career 37 percent 3-point shot, and natural passing abilities then you have an excellent floor-general to come in and grow a young team.

New York Knicks free agent target: Danilo Gallinari, stretch-big 

There were many options to go to in this class for a floor-stretching big, but the best option for Knicks might just be a reunion with Danilo Gallinari. See other players like Christian Wood, or Davis Bertans just have too many questions still and might end up being overpaid in a free agent market bad market, with Gallinari the Knicks know what they’re getting.

Adding Gallinari means that Knicks get when healthy an excellent scoring forward who shoots 38 percent from beyond the arc. In his past two seasons, he has put up 19 points per game, on 42 percent shooting from deep. He can come in and drastically improve the teams shooting.

He’s also been said to be a much better team defender than people give him credit for which is an added bonus.

If the Knicks can bring back Gallinari and get 2-3 more years of the type of production he’s had recently, it will bode well for their future.