The Nets stole the headlines on Draft Night with their sexier moves that have them threatening to replace the Knicks as Atlantic Division favorites.
But the Knicks aren’t done yet, as July’s free agency will determine whether they have lost ground to the Nets. The Knicks, who may have a trade up their sleeves, too, have to restock their roster with role players either by re-signing their free agents — J.R. Smith, Chris Copeland, Pablo Prigioni and Kenyon Martin — or adding to the roster.
Their No. 1 priority is re-signing Smith, the Sixth Man Award winner, who reportedly will get interest from the under-the-cap Bucks. Milwaukee can top the Knicks’ max bid of $5.4 million per season.
To date, the Nets’ starting five of Brook Lopez, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams has topped the Knicks for star quality, but the Nets have an unproven head coach in Jason Kidd.
Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald readily admitted Thursday night after drafting shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. at No. 24, “We have needs across the board.’’
Grunwald said he’d like to add a backup point guard, a big and a wing player, perhaps ex-Knick Shawne Williams to replace Copeland, who may bolt for the Pelicans, as The Post reported.
There are also rumors the Knicks could look to trade for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo with Boston having a fire sale, but they don’t have draft picks to make that trade. Clearly, Steve Novak will be shopped in any deal.
The Knicks still don’t know how their starting five will shake out with Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony up front and Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert in the backcourt. How the Knicks will handle the small-forward position is a mystery, perhaps depending on whether Prigioni re-signs. If he does, the Knicks could go back to a two-point-guard alignment and shift Shumpert to the three.
There are too many unknowns to compare the Knicks and Nets yet, but Tim Hardaway Sr. said yesterday he feels the Nets have gotten way better by aiding Kidd.
“Oh man, this helped Jason Kidd with his coaching,’’ said the elder Hardaway, a Heat scout. “Now he really doesn’t have to coach. He’s got guys out there who can coach themselves. Deron Williams, Pierce, KG can police the team. They’re proven winners. All Kidd has to do is make sure they run the offense and play defense. They’ll police themselves.’’
The elder Hardaway admitted the Knicks have to restock more to keep up with the competition in the Eastern Conference.
“Everybody in the East is getting better, the Knicks, Indiana, Brooklyn now,’’ he said. “You don’t have to worry about Boston now. That’s why you draft and get free agents to put the pieces of the puzzle together.’’’