Small changes coming for New York Knicks

While the Knicks’ 2012-13 season was easily the team’s most successful campaign in more than a decade, the fact remains that it fell well short of a championship or even a conference finals berth against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Surely, they’ll be in the thick of things again next season, but expect a few tweaks to the roster. Here’s a few early predictions for the Knicks’ offseason.

J.R. bolts
The NBA’s top sixth man this season, J.R. Smith is likely to opt out of his team-friendly deal and cash in on a career year. He told reporters after Saturday’s season-ending loss to the Pacers that he’d like to retire as a Knick, but the team can’t pay him what he’s likely to get elsewhere. On the plus side, the Knicks can re-sign Chris Copeland as a lesser but cheaper alternative.

Out with the old
Jason Kidd’s skills are eroding, and he’ll be 41 during the next postseason. Look for him to retire even with two more years left on his deal. Kenyon Martin may have played his way to too sweet a deal. Quentin Richardson, Kurt Thomas and Rasheed Wallace won’t be back, either. The only two current Knicks born in the ’70s who figure to return are likely Pablo Prigioni and Marcus Camby, and that’s a good thing.

A first-round draft pick
For most teams, this is old hat. But for the Knicks, it’s more of a biennial affair thanks to various trades. The last two years they used a first-round pick were in 2009 and 2011, and the Nuggets own the Knicks’ top pick next year. The Pacers series revealed how weak this team is on the glass, so selecting a front-court player who can box out would be a wise choice when the Knicks pick at No. 24.