As we get closer to the draft and free agency, your favorite team probably has plans for at least a half dozen different scenarios.
That’s worth noting as you see reports about teams being interested in different players this week.
In many cases, the team’s interest level depends on different factors/scenarios on draft night or in free agency.
With that in mind, DeMar DeRozan and Spencer Dinwiddie are two players on the Knicks’ radar in at least some of their free agency scenarios, per SNY sources.
Both players are unrestricted free agents.
The Nets would probably like to execute a sign-and-trade for Dinwiddie if he leaves Brooklyn.
The Knicks should have enough cap space to sign Dinwiddie, so they wouldn’t need to take part in a sign-and-trade with the Nets.
New York is looking for a lead guard in the draft and free agency. Dinwiddie is rehabbing a torn ACL, so signing him comes with some risk. But he’s expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back from the injury because he suffered the same ailment in college.
At least one key decision maker for New York has embraced the idea of signing Dinwiddie, per SNY sources.
But the Dinwiddie signing probably depends on a number of different factors, including the unlikely scenario of Damian Lillard asking for a trade before Thursday’s draft.
If Lillard requests a trade, New York would certainly be interested: The club probably has plotted through some contingency plans if they do acquire Lillard.
Teams monitoring the Lillard situation and DeRozan’s free agency expect New York to pursue DeRozan if the club acquires Lillard.
Some with the Knicks see DeRozan as a player who can address a weakness of the 2020-21 team: shot creation.
Derrick Rose and Julius Randle showed throughout the season that they can create their own shot/create open shots for teammates. But the Knicks could use more shot creators, something that was highlighted during their playoff loss to the Hawks.
DeRozan can certainly generate offense on his own. Given the Knicks’ need for shot creators, it’s entirely plausible that New York would consider signing DeRozan whether or not they trade for Lillard.
DeRozan’s interest in New York is unclear. The Knicks have the cap space to make DeRozan an attractive offer. DeRozan reportedly has interest in signing with the Lakers. It would take a lot of roster movement for the Lakers to be able to offer DeRozan something close to what the Knicks can offer.
Worth noting on Dinwiddie: Aside from the Knicks’ interest, at least one team has concrete plans to make the guard a strong offer in free agency, sources say.
New York is probably going to pursue several avenues in search of a lead guard. SNY previously noted that Kyle Lowry was among the names under consideration during the regular season.
New Orleans is also expected to pursue Lowry, sources have confirmed. The Pelicans reportedly traded Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams to Memphis on Sunday. The move shed significant salary and gets New Orleans close to being able to sign Lowry with cap space.
The move also gives New Orleans more money to sign restricted free agent Lonzo Ball.
But as of late last week, multiple people who would be informed on the matter
said it remained unlikely that New Orleans would try to match a Ball offer.
The Athletic previously reported that New Orleans was not going to match an offer
to Ball. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported that Dinwiddie is on New York’s radar. ESPN first reported that the Knicks were among the teams interested in DeRozan. The New York Times first reported New Orleans’ interest in Lowry.
