NEW YORK -- Andrea Bargnani is making a late push to extend his NBA career in New York.
Bargnani had 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and four blocks in the New York Knicks' win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Afterward, Knicks coach Derek Fisher commended Bargnani's defense and said that the veteran forward is showing the team he's "very capable" when healthy.
"He's an extremely talented player. The injuries have really limited his ability to reach his ceiling or get closer to it. So whatever the future holds in that regard, I think the way he's finishing this season is not only showing us, but also showing other teams as well, that he's a very capable player still at this point in his career," Fisher said. "I think he's trying to prove that to everyone, including us."
In an address to season-ticket holders on Thursday, team president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills discussed several players on the current roster in glowing terms. They did not include Bargnani.
In particular, Jackson commended Lou Amundson, Lance Thomas and Langston Galloway for executing well on both ends of the floor when they were added to the roster in January.
"We have a correct idea of what we want to have done and the players we [brought] in have a certain sense of how to play the game," Jackson said. "[They have] great energy, team players, they do a job out there and they help us play defense."
Jackson's glowing review may indicate that he wants to keep Amundson and Thomas for next season. Galloway likely will be on the 2015-16 roster because his contract contains a partial guarantee for next season.
Mills credited Amundson and Thomas for providing leadership during this lost Knicks season.
"The way they approach [each day] and how they conduct themselves, day in and day out on the court in the locker room -- those types of things are really important," Mills said.
Jackson hopes to bring back several players from this season's roster in free agency. Ricky Ledo, Alexey Shved, Jason Smith, Travis Wear, Shane Larkin, Cole Aldrich and Quincy Acy will all be free agents this summer.
Bargnani will also be on the market. The former No. 1 overall pick has mostly fallen short of expectations during his two-year tenure with the Knicks. But the idea of signing him to a veteran's minimum contract shouldn't immediately be discounted.
For what it's worth, Fisher declined to directly address a question about Bargnani as a possible fit for next season's team.
"If he's back, that's great," Fisher said. "But if not, I think he's going to do great no matter what the situation is."
Lottery odds slipping away? If the Timberwolves lose on Tuesday, they will pull within a game of the Knicks in the race for sole possession of the NBA's worst record. The owner of the league's worst record is guaranteed a top-four pick and will have the best odds (25 percent) of landing the top pick. The Knicks can assure themselves of the worst record in the NBA if they lose their final five games.
Question: Do you think the Knicks should re-sign Andrea Bargnani this summer? Which players would you keep from this season's roster?