By James H. Williams

The New York Knicks are trying to put together a quick rebuild of its roster as the team awaits word on Carmelo Anthony’s decision.

While it is unclear where the Knicks stand in the eyes of Anthony, the Knicks can put themselves in a good situation for the future if the team were to sign free agent Pau Gasol.

Aside from whether Anthony stays or goes, Gasol would be an excellent addition to the Knicks for a number of  reasons.

The first would be because he would be reunited with a familiar face in current Knicks’ president Phil Jackson.

Jackson coached Gasol as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, in which the pair won back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.

We also cannot forget Gasol’s former teammate Derek Fisher, who has been named the new head coach in New York following the conclusion of his playing career.

Fisher and Jackson would not be the only familiar faces that Gasol would know right now in New York.

Jose Calderon, who was a part of a five-player trade that sent him to the Knicks in return for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton, has a history with Pau Gasol.

Calderon and Gasol have been teammates on Spain’s national basketball team since 2002.

Gasol and Calderon have led the national team to many top ranked finishes during their time on the team, with the latest being a second place finish in the 2012 Olympic Games.

It does not stop there New York fans, if Gasol were to sign with the Knicks, it may also pave the way to see Pau’s brother Marc Gasol join the team in 2015 as a free agent.

Marc, who was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and the 2013 defensive player of the year, has one year left on his contract as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies.

How exactly would that work out on the court, you may ask. If you look at the success that the Spain national team has had when the three players have been on the court at the same time it is pretty easy.

The Knicks could play Marc at the center position, Pau at the forward position, and Calderon at either guard position.

Having a group of veteran players such as Calderon and the Gasol brothers would give instant team chemistry at the top of the Knicks roster.

If Anthony were to re-sign with the Knicks, we could see a Spaniard-heavy team make some noise in the Eastern Conference during the 2015 NBA playoffs.