A Couple of Old-Timers Look To Give Knicks a Fresh Start

Prediction!

The New York Knicks will win the 2006 NBA Finals.

Seriously though, the team they have now would have been more useful back then, but that doesn't mean this squad can't compete for a title next season.

With the additions of Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby, the Knicks have added some tough veteran experience that they lacked last year. 

Kidd is one of the most respected players in the league, not to mention accomplished, and will provide more assists off the court than on. While the Knicks haven't resigned Jeremy Lin as of yet, they are expected to, and the veteran point guard will be there to mentor the rising star every step of the way.

Lin struggled against teams who keyed in on him, and his turnover woes are a serious issue. With Baron Davis often injured, and Toney Douglas non existent, the burden proved to be too heavy for Lin to lift alone last season, and saw his breakout year cut short due to injury.

Kidd will not only show Lin the ropes, like he did with J.J. Barea in Dallas, but help shoulder the load. While Kidd may be growing a white beard by the end of the year, father time hasn't gotten his grips on the new Knicks guard just yet.

Camby on the other hand will do what Jared Jeffries could not last year-anchor the second unit.

No knock to Jeffries, as every Knicks fan knows his worth, but how many times did we see him out there?

Knee issues held him to 39 games last season, which added to the workload of Chandler and Amare Stoudemire. If the Knicks are going to go deep in the post-season, they need their superstars to be fresh late in the season, and Camby will provide that.

A menace to opposing teams, and a shot blocking wizard, Camby will be a true backup to Chandler, and give the Knicks a defensive presence when their star center is out. With the addition of Camby, the Knicks will be a force defensively, as they already have two of the best defenders at their positions in Iman Shumpert and Chandler.

If the Knicks can find some solidarity, and figure out a way to make the parts work, they could be a serious contender by the end of this year, but then again, that's a big IF.