Knicks Claim Jeremy Lin, Considering Other Free Agents

The Knicks have claimed Jeremy Lin off waivers. He will provide depth at the guard position and fill in for Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, and Iman Shumpert, who are currently injured.

Lin, 23, played with the Golden State Warriors last season. In 29 games, he put up averages of 2.6 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in only 10 minutes a game. Lin's contract is non-guarunteed.

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Lin is probably not a permanent option for the Knicks this season and the Knicks are looking into some other free agents. Here is the rundown:

Gilbert Arenas
I think that Agent Zero would be a good fit and and would be worth the risk if the Knicks signed him. For more, read this.

Wilson Chandler
There has been talk of former-Knick Wilson Chandler possibly rejoining the team, but I don't see it happening and here's why:
-He is not available to sign until March 2012 and even then the Nuggets have the right to match whatever the Knicks offer and New York doesn't have the cap space to outbid Denver.
-Also, as much as Chandler says he wants to rejoin New York, he probably also wants money and can probably be wooed by a big contract offer from a team with a lot more cap space.

Kenyon Martin
K-Mart wouldn't be able to join the Knicks until March 2012 like Chandler, but could be worth the wait. He would serve as a solid back-up to Amar'e Stoudemire and could be the a key player in a possible title run this season.

James Posey
There was talk a while back of Posey signing with the Knicks, but Mike D'Antoni dissmissed the rumors and the Knicks don't really need him. They need a guard becuase of injuries and also, Posey just isn't as talented as the other players the Knicks could sign.

J.R. Smith
There hasn't been any talk of him signing with the Knicks when he will be available in March 2012, but he could help the Knicks at the shooting guard position. Landry Fields is still struggling and Iman Shumpert needs time to develop. That being said, Smith hasn't publicly expressed any interest in signing with New York and will probably be offered more money somewhere else.

Personally, I think the Knicks should trade Bill Walker, Steve Novak, and/or Jared Jeffries to free up cap space. Then the Knicks could sign up to four of these guys. I think the Knicks should target Martin and Arenas. Chandler and Smith are far-fetched and Posey wouldn't help the team as much. The Knicks could just keep Lin, but unless he plays really well, I don't think they should.

Here is how the Knicks' lineup is looking as of right now:

PG: Toney Douglas - Jeremy Lin*, Baron Davis, Mike Bibby

SG: Landry Fields - Bill Walker, Iman Shunpert

SF: Carmelo Anthony - Renaldo Balkman, Steve Novak

PF: Amar'e Stoudemire - Jared Jeffries

C: Tyson Chandler - Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan

* = Non-guarunteed contract
Red = Injured

UPDATE: I forgot to mention Nate Robinson, Earl Boykins, Marcus Banks, who the Knicks could also sign.

Have any thoughts on Jeremy Lin joining the team or what free agents you think the Knicks should target? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Knicks Beat Celtics on Christmas, Start Season 1-0

Merry Christmas! Regardless on what presents you got today, the Knicks came through and beat the Celtics 106-104 at home to tip off the regular season.

I missed all of the first half because I was busy with money, gift cards, and other miscellaneous gifts. I tuned in halfway through the game.

The Knicks led 62-52 at halftime, but in the 3rd quarter, the Celtics started dominating on offense, defense, and on the boards. At the end of the quarter, the Knicks were outscored 35-17, and were down 8.

The Knicks came back in the 4th and Carmelo Anthony made a pair of free throws to put the team up by 2 with less than a minute left. Kevin Garnett shot an awkward-looking mid-range jumper with with only seconds left in the game, but was defended well by Bill Walker and it missed. The Knicks won 106-104, but it was a nail-biter.

Melo was definitely the player of the game for the Knicks today. He finished with 37 points on 10-17 field goals to go along with 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

Amar'e Stoudemire was also a big help with 21 points on 8-11 field goals and 6 rebounds. Tyson Chandler and Toney Douglas did their parts (Douglas had 19 points and 4 assists, Chandler had 7 points and 6 blocks. Landry Fields, Iman Shumpert, and Bill Walker struggled offensively and combined for only 18 points on 6-21 field goals.

Rajon Rondo had 31 points and 13 assists in the losing effort to the Knicks.

Overall, I'm happy with the win, but the Knicks need to improve on their offensive and defensive strategies. On offensive, they sometimes seemed unsure on what they wanted to do and let in the Celts walk all over them on defense in the 3rd. Melo stepped up and led the Knicks to victory while STAT helped out a lot. Toney Douglas and Tyson Chandler also utilized themselves well. Landry Fields and Iman Shumpert both had rough games and I thought that Bill Walker was given too many minutes.

The Knicks are now 1-0 and are tied for first in the Eastern Conference.

(Photo Courtesy: Yahoo! Sports --- 'NBA: Boston at New York - Dec. 25, 2011 --- http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/games/2011122518/gallery/im:urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,getty:20050301:nba,photo,0e5e95b192762cf664cb05049888cf44-getty-136105724:1#photoViewer=urn%3Anewsml%3Asports.yahoo%2Cap%3A20050301%3Anba%2Cphoto%2Cap-201112251429521434036%3A1

Have any thoughts on the Knicks winning on Christmas? Was Renaldo Balkman the real player of the game? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

UPDATE: Iman Shumpert, who injured himself in the game, will miss 2-4 weeks with a sprained knee.

2011-12 New York Knicks Season Preview

The Knicks have played their only 2 preseason games (both vs. the Nets) and won both of them. Based on those 2 games and some other factors, here is my season preview for the Knicks and how I think that each player will do this season.

#7 - Carmelo Anthony: I expect Melo to really emerge as the leader of the Knicks after playing only the last 27 games of the 2010-2011 season with New York. I can pretty much picture him doing what he's been doing since he came into the league in '03. 2012 Eastern Conference All-Star Starter? I think so.

#1 - Amar'e Stoudemire: What I'm hoping for STAT is that he will play just as good as he was last season. His back is a concern, but he will have a lesser workload in the paint now that Tyson Chandler is on the team. As long as he stays healthy, the Knicks will stay contenders.

#6 - Tyson Chandler: Chandler will be making lots of money this season, probably more than he deserves. That being said, an overpaid Chandler is better than an overpaid Ronny Turiaf and he will fill the Knicks' void at the center spot. If Chandler stays hungry and performs as well as he did last season with the Mavericks, the Knicks should have a successful season.

#2 - Landry Fields: Landry Fields is an "if" right now. He struggled last season after the Melo trade and the Knicks drafted Iman Shumpert in this year's draft. I hope that Fields can adjust, get out of the slump he's in, and contribute.

#85 - Baron Davis: Davis is injured right now, but has a lot of upsides. He took less money to come to New York and chose us over the Lakers and the Heat. When healthy, I will look for him to play like Chauncey Billups played for us last season. Davis is 32 years old and hasn't won a championship yet, so I expect him to step up and lead the team at the point.

#23 - Toney Douglas: Douglas will start at least as long as Baron Davis is injured, but if he plays well early in the season, he could very well start all 66 games. However, I expect him to be the team's 6th man and be a spark off the bench.

#21 - Iman Shumpert: Shumpert has shown flashes of greatness since being drafted by the Knicks in the first round of this year's draft. Because he's a rookie, I expect that consistency might be an issue, but he could be the Knicks' shooting guard for the future.

#55 - Josh Harrellson: I personally like Harrellson's game. He may not look like much, but he helps teams win (He helped Kentucky reach the Final Four earlier this year). He's a rookie, so I'm not sure how much playing time he'll get, but I'm sure he will always play hard and will gradually impress the coaching staff and the fans.

#20 - Mike Bibby: After losing in the Finals last season with the Heat and signing with the Knicks on the vertan's minimum, Bibby is already out with back spasms. He is 33 and obvoiusly wants a ring pretty bad, so I'll expect him to be make the most of his minutes and be a veteran leader (He is the oldest player on the team).

#32 - Renaldo Balkman: Balkman played better than expected in the Knicks' 2 preseason games and I doubt that he will perform that well all season, but if he can keep it up, he could be the x-factor for New York this season.

#9 - Jared Jeffries: I'm not a huge fan of Jeffries. He tries his best, but he doesn't seem to ever play very well. If he wants to help the team, he needs to play defense like he's known for and not do what he did at the end of Game 2 against the Celtics in the playoffs last season.

#5 - Bill Walker: Walker is starting off the season out with a strained left groin and I expect him have trouble making it into the rotation this season. He averaged 11.9 points in 27 games with the Knicks in the 09-10 season, but played less minutes last season.

#? - Steve Novak: Novak is known for his three-point shooting. If he can do that well, he will help the team.

#44 - Jerome Jordan: Jordan didn't see any preseason action, but could be a key reserve for the Knicks. That being said, New York already has Tyson Chander and Josh Harrellson, and if he isn't waived before the season opener, I expect him to be a bench warmer.

Chris Hunter and Devin Green were waived earlier today.

What will the Knicks' record be this season? My guess is 43-23, which might put them in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place in the Eastern Conference. As of right now, I can picture the Knicks losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in 6 games.

Also, there is speculation that the Knicks are interested in Kenyon Martin, who will be able to sign with an NBA team in March. Martin is a former All-Star who could help the Knicks win a title.

The Knicks play their first regular season game vs. the Celtics on Christmas.

Have any thoughts on this season's Knicks squad? Should the Knicks sign Kenyon Martin in March? Sad that Devin Green is gone? Will Tyson Chandler be worth the money? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Knicks to Sign Steve Novak, Pursuing James Posey

I can imagine what you may be thinking right now: What?! But it looks like the Knicks will add forward Steve Novak to their roster.

Novak, 27, has played five seasons in the NBA, most recently with the Spurs. Throughout his career he's played with 4 different teams and has been in and out of the D-League.

I'm not sure I like this move. The Knicks are a contender and should focus their efforts on trying to sign better players. From what I've read, Novak is a good shooter, and that will help the team, but there are many better players that the Knicks could have signed instead of him.

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In other news, the Knicks are reportedly interesting in signing free agent journeyman James Posey.

I think that signing him would be a good move for the Knicks. Posey, 34, has won two NBA championships (with the Heat in 2006 and the Celtics in 2008). He struggled last season with the Pacers, but I think that he would turn the jets on if he was playing with a contender. Posey obviously knows how to win and would help the Knicks fill a void at the small forward position.

I also still think that the Knicks should sign Gilbert Arenas.

UPDATE (Dec. 20, 2011): When asked about James Posey, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said, "I don't think we're pursuing that right now."

Have any thoughts on Steve Novak signing with the Knicks? What free agents to you think the Knicks should sign to fill up their final roster spots? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Opinion: Knicks Should Sign Gilbert Arenas

A few days ago, I published a blog entry saying that the Knicks should sign Mo Williams. However, he is still playing with the Clippers and it doesn't look like they are going to waive him.

Now, I think that the Knicks should focus on trying to sign free agent point guard Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas, 29, split last season with the Wizards and the Magic after injuries and legal troubles had kept him off the court. He came off the bench most games in Orlando and D.C. and didn't quite play like he had in seasons before. Recently, the Magic waived him via the amnesty clause and Arenas has announced that he wants to sign with either the Knicks, the Lakers, the Heat, or whatever team trades for Dwight Howard.

Arenas is a 3-time All-Star and even though he will probably never play like the player he was in his prime again, he can still help the Knicks. He was widely criticized for his mediocre play with the Magic last season, but he still played fairly well and I think that he could shine if put into the right situation.

The Knicks could be a very good fit for Arenas and he could help bring a title to New York. If given a starting role, he might start putting up some of the numbers that he used to and if played off the bench he could be a solid backup or the best third-string point guard in the league. Also, he could play some shooting guard if needed.

In conclusion, I think that Arenas is worth the risk and the Knicks should sign him. Plus, the preseason has already started and there aren't a lot of good free agents left.

And yes, I did copy and paste Gilbert Arenas' head on a picture of Larry Hughes.

Have any thoughts on Gilbert Arenas possibly signing with the Knicks? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Baron Davis to Sign With Knicks

Free agent point guard Baron Davis, who was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, has committed to signing with the New York Knicks.

For the past week, Davis, 32, has been speculated to possibly be signing with the Knicks. Davis has made his decision and will sign with New York.

Davis has an injured back and is scheduled to be out 2-10 weeks. Toney Douglas will presumably start while he is recovering, but I have my money on Davis taking over the starting role when he is healthy again.

Also, I wonder what number Davis will wear. 1 and 5, the numbers he has worn for most of his NBA career, are taken by Amar'e Stoudemire (1) and Bill Walker (5). 85, the number that he wore with the Cavs last season, is not taken. However, he could ask Bill Walker to change his number before the season starts. Recently, Landry Fields switched his number to 2 so Tyson Chandler could wear 6.

Here is how the Knicks' lineup for the 2011-12 season is looking right now:

PG: Baron Davis (injured - back) - Toney Douglas, Mike Bibby

SG: Landry Fields - Iman Shumpert, Bill Walker (injured - groin)

SF: Carmelo Anthony - Renaldo Balkman

PF: Amar'e Stoudemire - Jared Jeffries

C: Tyson Chandler - Josh Harrellson

Also, there is a rumor that the Knicks might also sign free agent point guard Gilbert Arenas. It could be a good move if it happens.

Have any thoughts on Baron Davis signing with the Knicks? Should the Knicks sign Gilbert Arenas? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Knicks Win First Preseason Game vs. Nets

The New York Knicks beat the New Jersey Nets 92-83 in their first preseason game of the 2011-12 NBA season.

Renaldo Balkman led all scorers with 20 points in only 22 minutes off the bench. Rookie Iman Shumpert, who also came off the bench, put up an impressive stat line of 16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 26 minutes of play. Rookie center Josh Harrellson had 7 points to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and an unexpected 3-pointer.

Otherwise, it was a fairly sloppy win for the Knicks. None of the Knicks' starters (Douglas, Fields, Anthony, Stoudemire, & Chandler) hit 50% or more of their field goal attempts except for Tyson Chandler who only scored 4 points. Landry Fields had 7 points and 7 rebounds, but only made 2 out of 12 field goal attempts. Carmelo Anthony had 17 points and 3 assists, but shot under 50 percent in field goals, free throws, and 3-pointers. Toney Douglas had 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, but shot a modest 1 of 6 from beyond the arc. Amar'e Stoudemire's 10 points came from a less-than-spectacular 3 of 11 from the field, including a missed 3-pointer.

Bill Walker, Chris Hunter, and rookie Jerome Jordan did not receive any playing time. Walker was listed as being injured with a strained left groin.

I was especially impressed with Shumpert and Balkman. They both came off the bench and both had great games. If Shumpert can play like he did last night daily, I think he should be the Knicks' starting shooting guard over Landry Fields. Also, Balkman looked like he was in great physical shape.

I mentioned that it was a sloppy game for New York, but this is their first game of the preseason and team chemistry should develop quickly.

The Knicks have one more preseason game against the Nets at home on Wednesday, before tipping off the regular season on Christmas vs. the Boston Celtics.

(Photo Courtesy: NBA - Photo Gallery - Yahoo! Sports)

Have any comments on the Knicks winning their first preseason game. What do you think of Iman Shumpert? Will Renaldo Balkman have a breakout season? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

Knicks to Play First Preseason Game Tomorrow

Tomorrow, at 2:00 PM (Eastern Time), the Knicks will play their first preseason game. It will be on the road against the New Jersey Nets.

It should be interesting because this will be the first time that Nets players Shelden Williams and Shawne Williams will play against their former team.

I am looking forward to this game because I'm interested in seeing how new players (Mike Bibby, Iman Shumpert, Josh Harrellson, and Tyson Chandler) will perform. Also, I'm just excited in general for Knicks basketball!

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In other Knicks news, Baron Davis has said that he wants to sign with the Knicks and will be able to play in two weeks. This conflicts with a statement made earlier that he would be out for a minimum of 8 weeks.

If Baron Davis will be 100% healthy in 2 weeks, then it might be a good idea to sign him, but I would consider waiting to see if they can get Mo Williams, who I think is better than Davis.

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Maurice Evans, who was being talked about as a possible free agent choice for the Knicks, has re-signed with the Wizards on a one-year contract.

Free agent targets for the Knicks that remain are Baron Davis, Mo Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, Troy Murphy, Michael Redd, Earl Boykins, Willie Green, and Travis Outlaw. I think that Outlaw would make a good backup small forward if Bill Walker can't crack the Knicks' rotation this season.

(Photo Courtesy: "Knicks Free Agency Update: Waiting on Shawne Williams, Baron Davis" Posting and Toasting - http://www.postingandtoasting.com/photos/the-knicks-free-agency-update-waiting-on-shawne-williams-baron-davis)

Have any thoughts on the Knicks playing their first preseason game tomorrow? Should the Knicks sign Baron Davis or wait on Mo Williams? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.