Last season, the New York Knicks signed Arron Afflalo to help take scoring pressure off Carmelo Anthony. The two had played together before, and Phil Jackson was banking on the built-in chemistry to generate some wins for the Knicks. That failed to happen, and now with free agency on the horizon, Afflalo admits that he is not certain where he stands with New York heading into the offseason.
The Knicks are planning on being very aggressive when it comes to free agency this year, and that will start with evaluating the current roster of players. Afflalo will one of the first to be looked at. The shooting guard signed a two-year, $16 million contract last year with the second year being a player option. Jackson will ultimately get the final say if Afflalo sticks around. The shooting guard admits that right now he is not clear on what the future holds for him with the Knicks.
"I really don't know what I'm doing to do,'' Afflalo said. "We'll definitely have to address that when that times comes. Of course. I had a great first-year experience here. Obviously some ups and downs. One of those things I have to have a discussion with management and see how things go."
Afflalo has been inconsistent this season along with the rest of the roster. He started out slow before hitting a stride from November to January. Now he is struggling again especially on defense. He returned for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, registering nine points and two assists. While he is averaging 13.9 points on 46 percent shooting, it might not be enough to stay for next year.
"I try to look at my personal situation that would fit and try to get the best money value but it's one of those things you never know," Afflalo said. "So many things shake up and change at a moment's notice. Unless you're a max guy and teams will wait on you, it's hard to get answers until that moment comes.''
Afflalo is not the only person unclear of their future with the Knicks. Jose Calderon is someone that has failed to meet expectations and could be on the chopping block. The point guard was an unlikely hero against the Lakers, sinking a buzzer-beater to win the game. However, that might be the only bright spot of his tenure with the Knicks. The point guard will be a priority this offseason, and Calderon might not fit the bigger picture.
"Like I always say, we don't know what's going to happen," Calderon said. "I'm really happy where I am right now with the role I have, the way we're building something here and how the team is playing. But you're always one call away from something changing."
Jackson told the media that the Knicks do not need a star point guard like Rajon Rondo or Mike Conley to be successful next year. However, they need an upgrade from Calderon, Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant. All three players have struggled this year, meaning Jackson will either need to find them help or replace them.
