The New York Knicks are looking to make a huge splash in the free market this offseason. After acquiring Derrick Rose in a trade last week, the Knicks are now moving onto the 2nd part of their rebuild process, free agency, and with a plethora of interested free agents, the Knicks will have a lot of work to do. Not to mention the free agents they have themselves, like Forward Derrick Williams or Guard Lance Thomas.
In the 80 games Williams played for the Knicks this year, he averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds off 45% shooting from the field, and his presence off the bench has helped him garner interest from other teams. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, despite Phil Jackson wanting to re-sign Williams, the Lakers and Suns are said to be targeting the former 2nd overall pick:
Last summer’s free agency was hardly a Jackson bonanza and now he has to fiddle with his own free agents. Jackson wants to re-sign Lance Thomas, Kevin Seraphin and Williams. Williams will be recruited by at least the Lakers and Suns, according to a source.
There’s really no telling why the Suns are interested in the stretch power forward because they literally just drafted Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, two young and talented big men in their own right. The Lakers are probably looking to add depth to what seems like a lacking front court right now, and that makes sense. Williams will come at a reasonable cost in this ever-growing salary cap increase, and will be able to contribute immediately for any team he signs with.
