Bibby Is Better, But Knicks Still Have Hole At PG

Mike Bibby, the newest Knick, is a welcome addition

but not the long term final piece of the puzzle

for the championship minded Knicks

Mike Bibby has signed a one year deal with the New York Knicks.  This signing is a good one for the Knickerbockers, who will sign Bibby at the Veteran's Minimum.  With the lack of available point guards in the free agent pool this offseason, Bibby, though not the ideal candidate to lead the Knicks into the future, was one of the better options out there for the Knicks to grab, and grab him they did.

But the Knicks still need their point guard for the future, and there are options besides Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

Read on after the break to see why a familiar face may be the answer to the Knicks' search for a PG

Chris Paul and Deron Williams headline the free agent
class of 2012 point guards

While Knicks fans are enamored with Chris Paul, and would certainly welcome Deron Williams, these are not the free agents the Knicks need to pursue next offseason.  Would Chris Paul be a fantastic addition to the Knicks? Clearly. But with the pieces the Knicks have in the frontcourt and the limited room in terms of the salary cap with which they have to work, the Knicks and their fans need to think practically about their continued search for a floor general.

Raymond Felton performed at a high level
during his limited time with the Knicks

CP3 and D-Will are the marquee free agent point men of the 2012 offseason (that is, if they're still free agents, which looks less and less likely), but there is another free agent to be that should be on the Knicks' radar.  Raymond Felton.  Felton, who was traded to Portland on draft day, has an expiring contract at the end of the season.  Should he not sign an extension and enter the free agent market, he is someone who the Knicks should target.  We saw Felton's effectiveness last season, and there is no doubt that he can flourish in the fast-paced offense that the Knicks are currently running.  Even if the system changes (meaning of course a coaching change), Felton is a more than capable facilitator, a hard nosed defender and an improved scorer.  Now the Knicks have more tools than just Amare Stoudemire for a point guard to work with, and Felton is exactly the kind of player who could be a key piece in leading the new Knicks to a championship.

With the solid front line of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, a player that demands both the ball and a large contract, such as Paul, is an unnecessarily large addition to a team that is looking to add the little, but essential, pieces of a legit championship contender.  If the Knicks could add a player like Felton, they would be one big step closer to competing at the highest level.