The recent speculation about New York Knicks‘ Derrick Rose’s future in the Big Apple gave us a chance to look at potential replacements.

The subject of New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose‘s future has been a cause for speculation after some recent comments from the former MVP.

Rose told SLAM Magazine that he wanted to “play the rest of [his] life [in New York],” and he’d be open to a contract extension during the season. Rose is eligible for an extension identical to the one Russell Westbrook received, of three-years, $75 million.

The franchise may be tempted to back up the money truck to their best point guard in decades.

Before they jump the gun, the Knicks obviously need to take into account Rose’s injury history, but also the replacements that could be available this summer.

The 2017 free agent class is loaded with talented point guards. According to Basketball Insiders, the Knicks are projected to have up to $20.9 million in cap room to spend this summer. That’s enough to sign one of the many top-flight point guards that will be available.

We took a look at the cream of the crop for you.

  • Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
  • Player Option
  • Age: 31 (05/06/1985)
  • Career averages: 35.7 minutes, 18.7 points, 9.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals
  • Career slash line: .472/.367/.865

Chris Paul is getting up there in years, but he’s still the best point guard in the NBA and this summer he’ll be paid like it.

The Clippers will do everything in their power to keep him around, but this is his sixth season in L.A. with the same core group. If they come up short in the playoffs again, Paul could go looking for a new team.

The Clippers are facing a huge summer with both Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick becoming free agents. It’s a do or die season for the Doc Rivers’ team, and right now they’re playing like it (16-5). But if they don’t win a championship then none of that 16-5 record matters.

Paul is close friends with Carmelo Anthony, and the thought of playing with Kristaps Porzingis could be intriguing.

You’ll never have to worry about CP3 getting in the way of Porzingis’ shots either. Paul is arguably the most efficient player in the NBA.

Paul is fifth in assists but an incredible third in assist to turnover ratio and currently averaging 17.8 points per game on just 12.5 FGA. His usage percentage (24.1%) is lower than KP’s (24.3%).

It goes without saying that he’d be an incredible addition. Paul immediately makes Porzingis better and gives the Knicks another lethal mid-range option alongside Melo.

The chances of CP3 leaving the Clippers are slim.

  • Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
  • Player option
  • Age: 30 (03/25/1986)
  • Career averages: 30.5 minutes, 13.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals
  • Career slash line: .420/.359/.798

Kyle Lowry was almost a Knick once already. The Raptors were interested in moving Lowry back at the 2014 trade deadline.

The Knicks were afraid of getting fleeced for the second time by general manager Masai Ujiri (a major part of the Denver Nuggets front office during the Carmelo Anthony trade) and reluctant to trade two players (Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr.) who they dealt away later for peanuts.

It was a low point for the franchise, to say the least.

Now they have a chance to pick him up in free agency. Lowry already announced that he would opt out of his contract for 2017-18 making him an unrestricted free agent.

2015-16 was the best season of Lowry’s career, and he’s been just as good or better across the board this season. Lowry and Courtney Lee would form one of the most lethal defensive backcourts in the NBA.

Prying Lowry away from a city he loves (Toronto) and a backcourt mate that he gets along with (DeMar DeRozan) won’t be easy. But if Lowry’s core in Toronto isn’t enough to get past LeBron than why waste the rest of his prime years there?

The Knicks will try and sell Lowry on that fact and a Porzingis and Melo big three. It’s all about the fit, and the Philly native is as tough as they come. He’d be a perfect Knick.

  •  Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Unrestricted
  • Age: 26 (06/12/1990)
  • Career averages: 32.1 minutes, 14.1 points, 6.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals
  • Career slash line: .440/.369/.798

Jrue Holiday missed the first 12 games of the season to take care of his sick wife. The Pelicans were 2-10 without him, and it looked like their season might be over early.

But since their starting point guard’s return they’ve gone 5-3 and look like an entirely different team.

Per Basketball-Reference, the Pels are a +12.2 points per 100 possessions with Holiday on the court and a -5.5 points per 100 possessions without him.

Holiday isn’t on the level of Lowry and Paul, but he’s an excellent shooter and puts just as much pressure on a defense as D-Rose when driving to the basket.

Like Rose, though health is an issue. Holiday’s missed 97 games in the past three seasons to Rose’s 119.

  • Jeff Teague, Indiana Pacers
  • Unrestricted
  • Age: 28 (06/10/1988)
  • Career averages: 26.3 minutes, 12.2 points, 5.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals
  • Career slash line: .447/.350/.839

Jeff Teague had a horrible start with the Pacers, but he’s picked it up over the last eight games.

He’s still struggling terribly with the three-ball, but eventually, he’ll get his stroke back from downtown. Teague’s shot selection has a part in that.

Per NBA.com, Teague’s taken nearly as many threes off the bounce (29) as he has off the catch (33) while shooting a miserable percentage off the bounce (13.8%) and converting at an excellent rate off the catch (39.4%).

After being shipped out of Atlanta to clear the way for incumbent lead guard Dennis Schroder, Teague had plenty of pressure facing him replacing long-time starter George Hill in Indiana.

Hill (with the Pacers for five seasons) was shipped to Utah as part of the Teague trade. He’ll also be a free agent this summer.

The Pacers are likely to pursue Teague in free agency, and the 28-year-old was born and raised in Indiana. Prying him away could be difficult.

There were multiple reports last season that the Knicks were interested in Teague via trade, but nothing ever materialized. If that interest has sustained, Teague is a safer option than Rose long-term.

He won’t give you the same highlights, but you know you what you’re getting from him. And most importantly you can probably get him for less than the max.

Chip Murphy covers the NBA for Elite Sports NY. You can find him on Twitter @ChipperMurphy.

 NEXT: Can the New York Knicks keep up with this winning pace?