Could Harris pair up with Anthony? (USATSI)
Could Tobias Harris pair up with Carmelo Anthony? (USATSI)

The New York Knicks are about to be involved in a lot of rumors regarding upcoming free agents in 2015 and 2016. With Phil Jackson clearing cap space for this coming offseason, the Knicks will be heavily involved as they try to ressurect a once proud franchise. Not a lot of player movement is expected with top free agent targets like Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love, which means the Knicks will have to get creative with the lower tiers of unrestricted and restricted free agents.

Does that make someone like soon-to-be restricted free agent Tobias Harris a big target for the Knicks this summer? According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Harris has his eyes on the Knicks and even "wants to win a championship with the Knicks." Harris is from Long Island and the Orlando Magic forward could be one of those restricted free agents another team tries to steal with a big offer sheet.

Harris has a big summer ahead, electing to become a restricted free agent rather than signing Orlando’s 4-year, $36 million extension offer. A source told The Post in November the Knicks are tops on his list.

Thursday night, a close friend of Harris' told The Post, "He wants to win a championship with the Knicks."

However, Harris is extremely careful when speaking about free agency.

“I don’t think about it too much,’’ Harris said. “I’m trying to play basketball, worry about the present with Orlando. That’s my mind-set. After the season, when that time comes, we’ll be able to discuss that and go from there.’’

While the allure of a big name free agent will be the sexier options for the Knicks, someone like Harris is a much more realistic option, whether he's from New York or not. The Knicks have to find gems in the second and probably realistically the third tier of free agents this summer. Harris falls into that range as a strong player that can play both forward positions. He can be a good scorer in the NBA and fits the mold of what the Knicks ask of Carmelo Anthony.

He's averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 rebounds in 35.1 minutes this season. His scoring average, field goal percentage (47.1 percent), and 3-point percentage (40.1 percent) are all career highs for him. The ball tends to stick with him (he averages 1.3 assists for his career), so the adjustment to the Triangle offense could be tricky at first, but he would be the type of young talent the Knicks have to target in free agency.

The Hornets tried to steal Gordon Hayward this past summer with a max offer sheet, which the Jazz eventually match. The Mavericks did steal Chandler Parsons with a three-year, $46 million offer sheet that the Rockets declined to match. That's a lot of money for Harris, but the Knicks may need to throw some serious cash Harris' way if they want to pluck him from Orlando.