The Plan to fix the New York Knicks this summer!

Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have been a nightmare to watch and root for the last few years. It’s always the same script. At the start of the season there is this idea that this team is going to be great and compete for the title or at least make the playoffs and time after time this team flops and the drama ensues. During the Melo era we have had one great season and I still don’t know how that team finished 2nd in the conference. Maybe it was an illusion. I always go back to check the standings to make sure that actually happened and not a dream. Look how far this franchise has fallen, since that day.

Personally it starts at the top but not sure if James Dolan will ever sell the team when Forbes rates it as the most valuable franchise. So that solution is out. The other easy answer is firing Phil Jackson but that won’t happen either. So let me talk about how the Knicks should attack this offseason.

Trade Melo. This is priority number #1. I don’t care what we get in return its time to turn the page. I am thankful for all that Carmelo Anthony has done but this team’s direction has to be rebuilding with youth. If we get some young players or draft picks in return, that’s great. Not sure we will get anything after what the Kings got for Cousins but we will take anything. The Knicks need to have a sit down with Melo and just be honest that the plan is to start over. If he waives his no trade-clause, there will be more teams that will be willing to trade for Melo and that will help create some demand. Him waiving his no-trade clause is the key.

Hitting a Home run in the draft. Two years ago Jackson hit a home run with the Porzingis pick. He needs to do it again this year. In my personal opinion my order for who the Knicks should draft are Fulltz, Ball, Josh Jackson, Tatum and Fox. I am hoping one of those guys will be there when the Knicks pick. Stop this nonsense about picking players that fit the triangle. The French player Frank Ntilikina maybe a nice player but don’t draft because of fit. You look at today’s game; PGs are the most important position. All the best teams, more importantly the contending teams all have an elite PG. The Warriors have Curry, the Cavs with Irving, the Wizards with Wall and the Rockets with Harden. You need a difference maker at the point guard position. Based on the #8 spot, you need to draft Fox because of the potential difference maker he can be with his speed. Fox and Porzingis combination would be a great thing to watch.

Let Hornacek coach. Only the Bulls and Knicks hire a coach and then not give him the tools to be successful. You hire Hornacek, who loves to play an up-tempo style offense relying on the 3-ball. Then you set him up with Rose a poor shooter then tie his hands by forcing the triangle. Jackson needs to get over his ego; you cannot run the triangle in today’s game. Sure you can use elements of the triangle but the game has gotten faster and there is a more dependence on the 3-point shot. This summer they need to let Hornacek run his offense and start molding this roster to the strengths of Jeff Hornacek.

Mend the fences with Porzingis. What Porzingis did was wrong, he cannot miss the end of season meeting and then start posting stuff on twitter. But some of that has to do with how the Knicks run their franchise. It’s a total mess with constant drama. They need to have a sit down and reassure him that the Knicks will not run the triangle and fix some of their internal issues. Every Knick fan out there knows that the triangle does not take advantage of Porzingis’s skill sets. You are basically limiting his potential. He is the fastest and most athletic big in the game, how you can ask him to play in slow tempo offense that limits 3-point attempts? It is just plain stupid.

Don’t spend money this summer. This summer the Knicks could have a nice chunk of salary cap to spend. Rather than target the over the hill point guards, the Knicks should attack the restricted free agent market. Go after Otto Porter or KCP. These guys are on the younger side and would be good complimentary pieces to Porzingis. They also should bring back both Ron Baker and Justin Holiday, both nice pieces that provide good depth on the bench. In previous years the Knicks would make this splash moves that rarely have worked, it’s time to stop that and look to get younger. It’s not about getting on the front page Newsday anymore. Look at the Yankees and how they attacked this past offseason and use that as a template.

This summer’s plan should be really simple. The Knicks should trade Melo, attack the restricted market, re-sign their own young players and move on from the triangle, while mending fences with Porzingis. If it’s easy for me to see then I know it’s hard for the Knicks management to see it. The Knicks have to give up this idea that they can be good right away. You don’t build a house with the furniture, you start with the foundation, so the foundation for the Knicks is Porzingis. Start with him and go from there.