New York Knicks free agency preview: Big moves to watch for

Will the New York Knicks play it safe?

Signing D.J. Augustin to be the starting point guard is the definition of safe. I wrote about D.J. and veteran leadership and experience playing for Thibs that he’d bring to the Knicks. He’d be good Frank, Quickley, and Dennis Smith Jr.

The Knicks didn’t draft a point guard with the eighth pick and they let Payton go. That means they probably already have a plan in place for who they hope to bring in as the starter next season. Augustin could be the guy.

Jeff Teague is another stopgap. He played for Thibs in Minnesota — although it was a disaster — and he’ll come cheaper than Augustin. That’s because Augustin is better. Neither guy moves the needle, but fans of the tank may prefer Teague.

This season’s edition of once a Knick always a Knick appears to be featuring Justin Holiday. The last Knick to appear in all 82 games in a season — which is kind of sad seeing as how he last played for the team in 2016-17.

But Holiday is coming off the best shooting season of his career, 40 percent from 3-point range, and is still a good defender. Like Augustin, he also played for Thibodeau in Chicago. Begley reported that some decision-makers in the organization see Holiday as a player worth pursuing in free agency.

Former Kentucky players Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Willie Cauley-Stein make sense too. Before you ask — Yes, New Jersey high school legend MKG is a CAA client and Cauley-Stein is very close with assistant coach Kenny Payne.

Bring Melo back

Of course, there’s mutual interest in bringing Carmelo Anthony back. Rose was Melo’s long-time agent, and Anthony has an interest in finishing his Knicks career differently than the way it did with Steve Mills.

Anthony bounced back in a big way with a Portland team that showed supreme confidence in him. He had his best 3-point shooting season since 2013-14. The issue with Melo is what will happen if he comes back to New York.

The 36-year-old isn’t making a grand return to come off the bench on a lousy team. He’ll want to average 30 minutes per game and take a bunch of shots. Not everyone is going to be on board with that.

No matter what the Knicks do, I’m ready for free agency to start.