Knicks Rumors: New York Wants To Add Veteran Backcourt Help Via Trade

The New York Knicks are still trying to figure out what the future holds with them and Carmelo Anthony, but they're also hoping to improve their roster by adding a veteran player in the backcourt.

However, that will likely only happen in a trade after New York signed second-round pick Damyean Dotson, according to ESPN's Ian Bagley.

Second-round pick Damyean Dotson has agreed to a three-year deal with the Knicks, as was reported on Saturday. The first two years of the contract are guaranteed. The amount of the deal is unknown, but it likely will take up most of the Knicks' remaining $1.4 million in cap space. If that's the case, New York will only have veteran's minimum exceptions left to spend on free agents. The club still hopes to add a veteran point guard. Doing so in a trade for Anthony seems to be the best route.

New York is expected to go into the season with first-round pick Frank Ntilikina and Courtney Lee as their starting backcourt with second year man Ron Baker coming off the bench.

The Knicks reached out to a few veteran point guards at the start of free agency, including Rajon Rondo, George Hill, Shelvin Mack and Darren Collison, but were unable to land any of them.

They have been fielding offers for Lee and Kyle O'Quinn, as those are the two pieces they are most likely to move if they do make a trade. However, their best chance to land a quality veteran guard would likely come in a Carmelo trade.

Anthony - who does not want to play for the Knicks next season - has previously said that he would waive his no-trade clause for either the Cavs or Houston Rockets, but is now set on joining Houston. He was reportedly convinced that he would be traded to the Rockets earlier this offseason and won't settle for anything else.

The Rockets gave virtually all of their expendable backcourt pieces (Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams) to the Los Angeles Clippers in the trade for Chris Paul. Houston does not want to trade Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon and don't have any proven backup point guards.

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