National Basketball Association

Knicks still have cap space, but future is now

Published Jul. 12, 2010 11:57 p.m. ET

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No more talk about next summer. Forget about the Knicks' cap space and potential free agents, too.

Team president Donnie Walsh wants to talk about the players on his improved roster right now.

New York introduced new arrivals Raymond Felton, Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf on Monday. Not quite the same as showing off LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. But Walsh insisted that adding this group to the Knicks' one big acquisition, Amare Stoudemire, puts the club in position to compete in the present.

''This is a different conversation than I had with you guys two years ago,'' Walsh told reporters. ''So when you finish this, don't go out and say a name, and then for two years or one year we're all focussed on that one name. The guys that I'm bringing here now are meant to come here and stay here. They're the kind of players you'd want even if you did have the cap flexibility to go out and get another player.

''So it isn't like everyone should be looking over their shoulder. I think the days of just basically making deals to get rid of cap space are for the most part over.''

For two years, the Knicks piled up losses as they shed salaries to free up enough cap room to make a run at James this summer. That didn't pan out, of course, and now the pressure is on to start winning after nine consecutive losing seasons.

Then again, winning also could make the Knicks a more attractive destination for a marquee free agent next summer.

''If you're a good team, you have a good record and you have cap space, and there's a great player out there, then maybe he'd think about coming here,'' Walsh said.

James' decision to join Wade and Bosh in Miami certainly suggested that. Walsh acknowledged conventional wisdom in the NBA is changing after three established stars chose the same franchise.

''It's something new to me,'' he said. ''It probably is born out of the ages. These guys have been playing against each other in AAU. They pick their AAU team, so why not pick their pro team?''

It doesn't seem so bad when they all pick your team. As Walsh joked, ''I just want them to all say they want to play in New York.''

Randolph, who turns 21 on Thursday, could have the most impact on how attractive the Knicks look in a year. They acquired the 6-foot-10 forward along with Azubuike and Turiaf in last week's sign-and-trade deal that sent David Lee to Golden State.

The No. 14 pick in the 2008 draft played just 19.6 minutes per game in two seasons with Golden State, averaging 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds while he struggled to fit into coach Don Nelson's system.

Asked about his relationship with Nelson, Randolph smiled and mulled his answer for a few moments.

''It was just a situation where I think he wanted me to be a certain type of player and do certain things a certain way, and I did to the best of my ability,'' he said carefully. ''But I think (Knicks) coach (Mike) D'Antoni is the best situation for me as far as a coach that is just going to roll the ball out there and let me go out there and play and show the many things I can do on the basketball court.''

Asked why Randolph was inconsistent with the Warriors, Walsh said, ''Age, youth, playing time, all of the above.''

Randolph said he's up to 230 pounds - he has gained more than 30 since he was drafted. Walsh said he worried two years ago that the forward might never be strong enough to play in the NBA, but Randolph has proved him wrong.

''This is the perfect time for us to get him,'' Walsh said. ''He's got a chance to be a high-level player.''

Randolph said he could envision himself sharing the court with Stoudemire.

''I think it would be a beautiful thing,'' he said. ''Amare is a great low-post player, someone who demands a lot of attention. Just that alone is going to elevate my game, because you have to focus on Amare.''

Felton also believes D'Antoni's style fits him better than that of his old coach - in this case, Larry Brown, whom he played for in Charlotte before signing with the Knicks as a free agent. The point guard averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 assists last season.

''My style of game, getting the ball down the court, using my speed, using my quickness to make things happen on the offensive end - it's going to be a lot of fun,'' he said. ''That's what (D'Antoni) loves to do, get the ball and go.''

The Knicks also are set to add 7-foot-1 Russian center Timofey Mozgov. Walsh said he's a typical European big man, versatile but needing to improve his low-post skills.

Walsh said his roster will give the Knicks the flexibility to play big and small, and NBA teams need to be able to do both to win.

''After we got Amare and that part of free agency ended,'' he said, ''I wanted to make sure we could build the team into a team that fit together and made sense.''