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New York Knicks News: LaMarcus Aldridge Cancels Meeting With Team

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Knicks News: The Knicks were delivered some pretty bad news Thursday, as marquee free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge canceled his meeting with the Knicks once it became clear there were differing views on how he would be used with the team.

The New York Knicks and their fans were delivered a humbling and big blow Thursday, as free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge canceled his meeting with the team. Instead, Aldridge will have a meeting with the rival Miami Heat and Pat Riley over dinner later tonight, and a second meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers at some point.

The biggest reason for the meeting being canceled seems to be a disagreement on where Aldridge would play if he joined the Knicks. Supposedly, the Knicks and Phil Jackson would want Aldridge playing center. That is something that Aldridge went into free agency not wanting to do, as he wanted to remain at power forward. Once it became clear that the Knicks intentions were to have Aldridge play a lot of center, he canceled his free agent meeting with the team according to David Aldridge.

While the Knicks were looked at as long shots to land Aldridge when free agency began, this will undoubtedly be looked at as a failure by Jackson by many people. After missing out on Greg Monroe, who signed a three-year $50 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, Knicks fans are beginning to get fidgety in free agency. As it currently stands, the only player the Knicks have signed is veteran shooting guard Arron Afflalo. People will bash Jackson, but there are a couple of things to take away from this.

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While a number of people will say this is Jackson being stubborn, it could be a glimpse into what the Knicks are planning for the upcoming season. Asking Aldridge to move from power forward to play center more could mean that the Knicks are going to use Carmelo Anthony at power forward almost full time this upcoming season. Anthony struggles at time to keep up with players on the perimeter, and a knee surgery will not make him any quicker. Because of that, he could find himself at the 4 more, where the Knicks actually have the most success.

If that is the case, the Knicks can now focus on centers, such as Robin Lopez, to come in as a rim protector next to Anthony. It also means they can look at more wing players, such as West Matthews and Tobias Harris despite already inking Afflalo to a deal. If Anthony is playing power forward, there will be plenty of minutes available on the wing, and with only Afflalo and Cleanthony Early on the roster to take those minutes, the Knicks can afford to add some more bodies there.

With the big-named power forwards off the market, the Knicks and Jackson will now have to get creative in bringing some new ones in. While people will be upset with how things turned out, and come away disappointed, the Knicks could be better suited getting multiple players to help fill out the roster than spending it all on one player such as Aldridge.

Next: Who is the best Knicks' PG of all-time?

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