After failing to make the postseason for a third straight year, the Knicks now have their sights firmly set on free agency. Last season, free agency was a nightmare for the Knickerbockers, striking out on prime targets such as DeAndre Jordan, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Greg Monroe. Rather, the Knicks opted for plan B by signing Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo away from Portland.
Lopez, signed to a four-year deal, is set to return next season barring an unlikely trade. Afflalo, on the other hand, was signed to a two-year deal with a player option in his second season. In other words, Arron Afflalo has the luxury of deciding whether he wants to return to New York next season. If not, he can opt-out of his current contract and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks are expecting Afflalo to do just that:
DeRozan schooled the declining Arron Afflalo, who the Knicks figure will opt out after the season, leaving a gaping hole at shooting guard. Twice in the first half, DeRozan blew by Afflalo for easy layups.
Last season, Afflalo was a key piece in helping the Portland Trail Blazers finish with a 51-31 record, or the franchise’s second best record since 2000. Once traded to Portland, Afflalo produced 10.6 points per game on 40% shooting from behind the arc in a total of 25 appearances. This season, as Berman noted, Afflalo has been sub-par on the defensive end. While he’s seen his points per game average increase to 12.8, his three-point shooting has declined to 38%. His offense, however, isn’t the problem.
Along with the known defensive issues, Afflalo’s relationship with interim head coach Kurt Rambis is currently strained, as Marc Berman examines:
Arron Afflalo sounds as if he’s counting the days to the end of his Knicks career after a recent demotion to the bench.
After his worst outing Monday since the surprise move, a frustrated Afflalo indicated his shift to the pine, made during the West Coast trip earlier this month, will factor in his decision whether to opt out of the second year of his contract, which is due to pay him $8 million.
Afflalo added interim coach Kurt Rambis had not spoken with him to explain the move to start veteran Sasha Vujacic, who has had a poor season. Rambis said Afflalo’s assertion isn’t true.
“I’ve already done that,’’ Rambis said. “Of course.”
Did Afflalo have a memory lapse?
“It wasn’t that long ago,’’ Rambis said. “Of course that conversation was had.’’
Arron Afflalo has a decision to make. It appears as though he’s ready to move on, and the Knicks expect him to do just that. Afflalo’s tenure with the Knicks has been short-lasted and painful to watch. It may be time for both sides to acknowledge the fit hasn’t worked, and ultimately move on from each other this upcoming summer.
If Arron Afflalo does decide to opt-out, it’s safe to say he will be seeking one more big contract with a team. Whether any team is willing to pay that price is a question that still remains largely unanswered.
