The New York Knicks purportedly plan to pursue Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, but fans may not want to hold their breath. The soon-to-be free agent signing with the Knicks has a "fairly low" chance of happening, according to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler.
At this point it seems a given Aldridge will test free agency in July. Although Aldridge has said he wouldn't mind playing in the triangle offense, the Knicks don't appear to be a serious contender to sign him in July. Kyler was the latest NBA analyst and insider to say as much, calling the chances of Aldridge heading to the Big Apple "fairly low."
"The Knicks are not an attractive team... the market is nice, but the team is a mess," Kyler wrote Wednesday. "I think if Aldridge leaves Portland, he's going to a team a lot closer to a championship."
Kyler's belief falls in line with a report from ESPN's Marc Stein that indicated New York wasn't at the top of Aldridge's list. Stein's report pegged the San Antonio Spurs, the Cleveland Cavaliers - if Kevin Love leaves - and the Dallas Mavericks as Aldridge's three preferred destinations, seemingly in part because of each team's playoff readiness.
New York's market size and projected cap space has the team linked to just about every free agent set to hit the market, and it's reasonable to believe team president Phil Jackson will pitch just about every big-name free agent - including Aldridge -available this summer. The Knicks need a rim-protector, and with Aldridge and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol likely out of reach, Jackson's next best free-agent option is Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe, whom a report last month indicated was a lock to sign with New York this summer, prior to Aldridge purportedly deciding to test free agency.
Getting lucky and drafting either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor would satisfy New York's need for a rim-protector, making a point guard and a true power forward the Knicks' Nos. 1 and 2 priorities in free agency. Other free agents New York has been linked to include Kevin Love, Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo.
