This summer has been filled with the familiar feeling of disappointment for the New York Knicks and their fans.
They had made the playoffs as the fourth seed in the 2020-21 season, but they failed to reach the postseason last year, meaning they needed to be significant changes this offseason.
The big rumor was that Donovan Mitchell, a three-time All-Star who is originally from Westchester County, would inevitably be traded to the Knicks, as he wanted the Utah Jazz to trade him after seeing his All-Star teammate Rudy Gobert get sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Instead, Mitchell was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With training camp on the verge of starting, it looks like the roster New York has right now is the one it will start the season with.
It filled its last roster spot by signing guard M.J. Walker, but there are still a couple of free agents available that the team could sign if it decided to cut someone else currently on its roster.
Carmelo Anthony
This is a move that has been whispered about throughout the summer, as Anthony has reportedly been interested in returning to the team he spent six-and-a-half seasons with.
Back then, he was in his prime, as he averaged 24.6 points per game in his six full seasons in the Big Apple.
But by 2017, Anthony was in decline, and he has played with four teams since.
However, even though he is now 38, he appears to still have a little bit left in the tank, as he put up 13.3 points in 26.0 minutes per game while shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point land for the Los Angeles Lakers last year.
Anthony doesn’t seem to be a great option for a contending team, as he was inconsistent offensively last year, and he plays little, if any, defense to speak of.
But bringing him back to New York could be a nice sentimental move for a team that, at best, will probably be a play-in team, and Knicks fans would likely shower him with lots of love.
It also makes sense as Anthony is originally from the borough of Brooklyn and went to college at Syracuse University in upstate New York.
Wayne Ellington
The Knicks could use a bit more 3-point shooting, especially at the shooting guard or wing spot, and Ellington could provide that for them.
In 13 NBA seasons, he has a career shooting accuracy of 38.2 percent from downtown, and last season he was at 38.9 percent despite being 34 years of age.
Ellington knows how to play with stars, as he has teamed with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Anthony Davis, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki, which will help him play alongside Julius Randle and open up the court for him.
Plus, he did play for New York just recently in the 2019-20 campaign.
At this point of his career, the 6-foot-4 guard likely won’t see a lot of playing time, and he may not play in every game he’s available to play in, much like an aging wide receiver or running back in football who doesn’t play every down due to age.
But Ellington can still come in at a moment’s notice and give his team what it needs, much like a doctor who is on call and make his or her way into the hospital at 3:00 A.M. to treat a patient.
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