Because what a 17-65 team really needs is continuity.
With the New York Knicks about to embark on a crucial free-agent season, flush with cap space and open roster spots, they're not expecting a full turnover of the roster. Only three players have guaranteed contracts for 2015-16, but in the case of at least two free agents, the team is hoping for consistency at the end of the bench.
The Knicks want to bring back unrestricted free agent Jason Smith and restricted free agent Alexey Shved, according to a report from Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The team is unlikely to prioritize retaining those two, as Smith's cap hold and Shved's qualifying offer would eat into salary-cap room they have designs on using for more marquee names.
Smith is a nice fit for the triangle offense as a big man who can shoot and pass, and he may be amenable to re-signing quickly with a salary below his $3.9-million cap hold. In 82 games, Smith averaged eight points, four rebounds, and 1.7 assists, knocking down 35.7 percent of his threes.
Shved was acquired at the trade deadline and played the best ball of his career over 16 games, looting in the riot, so to speak. He averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, well above his career marks of 7.4, two, and 2.5, respectively. He's a serviceable depth piece, but it seems unlikely the Knicks would tender him his $4.1-million qualifying offer and risk that he accepts it.
Hernangomez staying overseas
One of the Knicks' draft picks that Carmelo Anthony wasn't reportedly displeased about won't be flanking the superstar scorer for 2015-16.
Guillermo Hernangomez, the No. 35 selection in the draft, was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night. The Knicks may have been comfortable with his potential after scouting teammate and No. 4 overall pick Kristaps Porzingis. The 6-foot-11 center will spend the coming season in Spain, as dictated by the size of his buyout and his place on the development curve.
The 20-year-old has a 9-foot-1 standing reach and averaged 10 points and 5.7 rebounds for a midlevel team in the world's second-best pro league last season. That's production worth keeping an eye on, with Hernangomez standing as a potential bench piece down the line.
