Knicks president Phil Jackson is between a rock and a cap space with the trade deadline arriving Thursday and a point guard needed.
With his shocking coaching change made last week before the final game entering the All-Star break, Jackson gave a mandate to win now and make a playoff push despite being five games out of the eighth seed. Without a lottery pick, it does the organization no good to sit out the postseason.
Atlanta’s Jeff Teague is on the block, but the Knicks don’t have close to the assets to acquire the All-Star-caliber speed demon. Two other point guards who could help also are available in Houston’s Ty Lawson and Detroit’s Brandon Jennings, and the Knicks have monitored both. However, Lawson could significantly cut into their cap space for 2016 — the remaining year on his contract is a team option — and has had problems with alcohol. Jennings will be a free agent, but is less than two months returned from a torn Achilles.
Jackson also is realistic. He knows his big score likely will come during free agency and the more cap space, the merrier.
As reported by The Post, Kyle O’Quinn, who signed a 4-year, $16 million deal, has fallen by the wayside and he could be moved to open more room. The final year of his contract has a player option. Jose Calderon also could be shipped to open up coveted cap space. The Knicks, as is, have just $18 million of room — which is less than a maximum deal will amount to for Kevin Durant or Mike Conley.
Calderon will make $7.6 million next season, but, as interim coach Kurt Rambis pointed out, he has tough matchups many nights because of quicker point guards.
Rambis said he believes Calderon could be a bigger force offensively. An upgrade surely is needed, however, as rookie Jerian Grant has been inconsistent. In Rambis’ only game as interim coach, he did not play Grant.
Carmelo Anthony didn’t want to go near asking for management to make a move — especially since his name got linked, erroneously, to a trade rumor with Cleveland and Boston that angered him.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen if something happens we’ll see,’’ Anthony said Sunday night in Toronto before flying to Puerto Rico. “I didn’t know how to answer that question. I think we need this break to relax and reboot ourselves.’’
The Knicks return to practice Wednesday, and their first game will be after the trade deadline on Friday against the Nets.
“I don’t want to say we have to erase, but we have to erase the first half of the season,’’ Anthony said. “Take things we were doing well and build on that. It goes back to little, small things, getting back in the gym, competing against each other in practice. I know the schedule’s hectic but it starts from there. Guys got to get used to playing with one another.’’