Knicks say they 'weren't chasing the biggest stars' in offseason
The New York Knicks' offseason has lacked the sizzle many New York fans demand.
The Knicks did come away with center Robin Lopez, forward Derrick Williams and guards Arron Afflalo and Kyle O'Quinn, but swung and missed on players like LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan and Greg Monroe.
But the team is now saying that was somewhat by design.
"We tried to be as clear as we could possibly be that we weren't chasing the biggest stars," Knicks general manager Mills said via the New York Daily News on Friday during a news conference to introduce the team's four new players. "That's not how we're trying to build this team. Obviously, when LaMarcus Aldridge says he wants to meet with you and he's going to meet with six teams, we agree to go meet with him. DeAndre Jordan was willing to meet with us, so of course we go and meet him. And when you go in, you want guys to say yes. But our goal starting out with this was to spend our money wisely and to get guys in who we thought would bring this team along together and fill holes and as it turned out, we were better suited going with multiple guys as opposed to just going after one."
This message might also not be well received by Knicks fans, who assumed Jackson's 11 championship rings as a head coach would net the club more star power.
Carmelo Anthony also probably doesn't want to hear this. He's seen some of his closest friends in the league -- LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade -- either team up to create a star-studded roster or be surrounded by other stars.
But Mills said he let Anthony know about the Knicks' plans before the club signed him to a five-year, $122 million max deal last offseason.
"I think Carmelo understood," Mills said. "So I think we were pretty open and consistent with Carmelo when we were out talking to him this time last year, about coming back to the Knicks. He knew it was going to be a process and it was going to take time and we were clear with Carmelo, that's what our plan was."
