Knicks: 1 free agent signing to make, 1 free agent to avoid

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MAY 23: Mike Conley #10 of the Utah Jazz warms up before Game One of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 23, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 11: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Toronto Raptors during a game at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Raptors 102-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The Knicks need to nail free agency to continue their Eastern Conference ascension. Here’s one superstar they should ink and one they must avoid.

New York fans are well aware that their favorite NBA franchise has a chance to land a true superstar in free agency this summer. The Knicks have the cap space required to land anyone available on the open market. Selecting the right max free agent to sign is crucial for the team’s short and long-term futures.

Spotrac currently projects the Knicks to have just under $60 million in practical cap space this summer. Bringing back a few free agents of their own such as point guard Derrick Rose could eat into that space, but New York will have the opportunity to sign a max free agent no matter what.

This is the summer where New York will lock in the nucleus they hope can compete with the likes of Brooklyn and Milwaukee for Eastern Conference supremacy for years to come. It’s an opportunity the Knicks cannot afford to squander.

That’s why they need to spend big on Mike Conley

Conley might not be the sexiest free agent on the open market, but he is the best fit for what New York’s offense desperately needs. That’s why the Knicks should prioritize him over other luminaries such as Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul.

Conley is an underrated three-point shooter which is something New York must have from the point guard position. Julius Randle needs more space to operate all over the floor. The same can be said for RJ Barrett on the wing.

Don’t underestimate the fact that Conley is two years younger than Lowry and has a three-year advantage over Paul in that department. That makes giving him a four or five-year deal a slightly better bet to hold up over time. The Knicks shouldn’t pay Conley the max, but offering him a multi-year contract in the neighborhood of $30 million annually should be enough to get a deal done. It’s a contract that can drastically raise New York’s ceiling.

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