Before any of the trades or salary moves below, the Knicks need to find a great coach. they want a championship it starts with finding the next Pop/Thibs. A great coach and Phil Jackson would be great pieces to build with.
Anyways, it starts with this trade.
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mt2gvw8The Pistons unload Smith and Jennings, in exchange for Amare's soon to be huge expiring contract. They can keep their core and start over with a bunch of expiring deals (Villanueva, Stuckey) They can make a decision on Monroe and then next year when Jerebko, Billups, Bynum and Amare expire they have nothing but rookie deals, cap space and their own first rounders. Knicks might have to include some of their few assets, maybe choose between Shump and Hardaway.
The Knicks take on salary, but gain two things they really need. Defense and rebounding at the four spot from Smith, and an upgrade from Felton at the one. He may be a chucker but with Some serious playmakers around him I think he'll adjust his attitude. Again a great coach and Phil Jackson can transform a team.
Carmelo wants to stay now because they got some real talent. Let's say they keep Shump and Hardaway.
2014-15 Lineup
PG
Jennings
Felton
Prigioni
SG
Shump
Hardaway
J.R. Smith
SF
Melo
Earl Clark
PF
Josh Smith
A. Bargnani
K-Mart
C
Chandler
K-Mart
Cole Aldrich
Now you have Bargnani, Chandler, MWP coming off the books and Felton, Prigioni and Smith become expiring (assuming they pick up their player options).
You have to resign Melo for whatever it takes.
Resign the minor players (Clark, Tyler, Aldrich)
Keep Shump
Now this trade (Due to Larry Sanders new 11m contract kicking in next year I can't do trade machine but it works) Maybe include a 2017 or 2018 first rounder.
Prigioni, Felton and Smith (all expiring) to the Bucks in exchange for Sanders. Disgruntled and likely to be replaced by a rookie in the next two drafts, Sanders would replace Chandler. Maybe throw in a second rounder, I'm not sure how the Bucks relationship with Sanders will further decline or progress from here.
Also, if Sanders can't be had, sign Marc Gasol instead and put off siging FA's until 2016. But I think Sanders can be had so here it is.
They have well over 17 mil in free cap space. Sign Reggie Jackson, Brandon Bass, Thad Young and cheap vets to fill out the roster. The Knicks 2015 draft pick should fill out the rest of it.
Maybe an international find or two as well.
This gives the Knicks 2015-16 lineup
PG
Jennings
Reggie Jackson
JJ. Barea
SG
Shump
Hardaway
Cheap Vet
SF
Melo
T. Young
Clark
PF
J. Smith
Brandon Bass
J. Tyler
C
Sanders
2015 draft pick (Cauley-Stein?)
Aldrich
Melo finally gets what he wants, being the man on a contending team. You have all the elements you need.
Shooting
Melo
Bass
Smith (as a four shooting mid range, not threes obviously)
Hardaway
Jackson
Young
Clark
Perimeter D
Jackson
Shump
Interior D
Smith
Sanders
2015 draft pick (CAULEY-STEIN?)
Rebounding
Melo
Smith
Sanders
Bass
Young
Playmaking
Jennings
Jackson
Melo
Smith to an extent
A decent two year plan right?