Building the 2016 NBA Champion New York Knicks With NBA 2K15

Being a lifelong fan of the New York Knicks is not fun. We haven't gotten out of the second round of the players since 2000, and have been mediocre for the majority of that time. Even when we won 54 games in 2012-13, we weren't that good. That team overachieved because of veterans like Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, and Kenyon Martin being in the locker room. This coming offseason—after a year when the Knicks will likely win under 20 games—is one of the most important summers in team history. We locked up Melo for the next five years, gave away players like Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, and J.R. Smith to create some extra cap space, and should have a guaranteed top-four pick along with around $30 million to burn.

Marc Gasol, Paul Milsap, LaMarcus Aldridge, Wes Matthews, Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic, and Patrick Beverley will be among the free agents this summer. Each of those players can help the Knicks immensely, except for maybe Rajon because the triangle requires a point guard who can shoot.

At this point, though—who cares? We'd still take him regardless.

One of my favorite pastimes is building a Knicks team of my liking in NBA 2K. Sometimes I get ridiculous and basically build a fantasy team, but for the most part I try to be a little realistic to make the games competitive. Recently, I documented a Franchise mode for the 2016 Knicks, simulating through the 2014-2015 season (because we stink this year) to get to the fun part: the 2015-2016 season. Check out how the Knickerbockers can become title contenders next season as we begin Building the 2016 NBA Champion New York Knicks With NBA 2K15.

Angel Diaz is a staff writer for Complex Media. Follow him @ADiaz456.

I left the salary cap on because I want to have some pride when building a championship team. The myPlayer mode is alright but Franchise mode is what separates the men from the lames. And real men make the changes that need to be made. The league should pay attention and go back to a Best-of-5 format for the first round of the playoffs. This makes upsets happen and doesn't force us into watching more games than we have to.

I am a basketball video game veteran and I only play Hall of Fame. The way I do that without resorting to breaking controllers in frustration is by messing with the sliders. That's the only sane way because the computer be cheatin'—everybody knows that. I always go the 'Auto' route when it comes to Prospect Scouting, who has time for that? That's what scouts are for. One thing I did different this year was put 'CPU Re-Signing Aggressiveness' up to 60. This'll make the free agency period a little more realistic when it comes to teams keeping big names.

You fucking right I override trades. I also have to approve CPU trades because the computer is dumb as shit, and will have your league looking like a fantasy draft, and fantasy drafts are triddash. I put the Hard Cap up to 120, just in case. The Knicks don't give a shit about a luxury tax. Jim Dolan has money to burn. Also, 10-minute quarters because I adjust sliders and like to have stats as realistic as possible.

You already. The Knicks always win championships when I run them.

I used Trade Finder to make this happen, before you start talking shit. Don't blame me, blame the makers of 2K. Calderon and his three years for Jason Terry's one-year contract and I get my 2015 second round pick back? Don't mind if I do. This creates a little more cap space for this championship squad I'm about to build.

The Spurs finally win back-to-back chips. Now they can all retire.

I can't wait to make this top five draft pick and spend this $30 million.

The Knicks ended the year with a 24-58 record, good enough for the fourth pick. To my surprise, Karl-Anthony Towns was still on the board. D'Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor, and Stanley Johnson all went before him and honestly, I would've kept turning the game off until I got Towns. That's who I wanted from the start. I also took North Carolina's Kennedy Meeks in the second round. Now that I have a cornerstone for years to come, on to the Free Agency period.

Let's get it. I offered five of my targets contracts (Wes Matthews not pictured because he chose to sign with the Pistons like a dummy). The plan was to either sign a combination of either Goran Dragic, Wes Matthews, and Paul Milsap or to sign Marc Gasol and Patrick Beverley. On the third day, Beverley and Gasol accepted my offers, so I went with them since Wes' choice made this an easy decision. I knew the Pau, Phil, and Fish connection would work in my favor. It had nothing to do with the $19 million I'm paying Marc. Nothing. It's all about Phil and Fish's jewelry.

I also signed a grizzled veteran in Luis Scola, brought back Earl Barron because "Once a Knick, always a Knick," and snatched up some shooters in James Jones and Luke Babbitt with the remaining $4 million in cap space.

That five is one of the best in the league. I have ferocious defender in Patrick Beverly who can hit the three aka B.J. Armstrong/John Paxson. He's perfect for the triangle. Bradley Beal can shoot it from anywhere. Melo is the best all-around scorer in the game. Towns can run the floor, has decent post play, and is an exceptional defender. Marc Gasol is the best all-around center in the NBA. With him and Karlito down low, frontcourts can't live. I also have a good mix of shooters, size, vets, and young guys on the bench.

I might have to get a true sixth man like Jamal Crawford or Earl, but I'm willing to give Langston a shot. It's his gig to lose. This all adds up to a rating of 81? I'll take it. We're going to be in the high 80s when it's all said and done. And I smell a championship.