The New York Knicks begin the 2014-15 season with a new coach, slimmer Carmelo Anthony, new offense and high expectations.

One-third of the Knicks roster is brand spanking new. The team shipped embattled point guard Raymond Felton and center Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert. The team turned heads when they hired recently retired NBA point guard and NBA Champion Derek Fisher as their new head coach. New York made a splash in NBA free agency when they re-signed Carmelo Anthony to a five-year $122 million contract.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was a member of last season’s team that finished the 2013-14 season at 37-45 and ninth place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. He’s pleased with the orange and blue’s tweaks during the offseason. “I think we’ll be a pretty tough team especially coming off of the season that we had,” Hardaway tells The Source.

“Everybody’s worked hard in the offseason and I think with D-Fish and Phil [Jackson] in the front office, we’ll be able to do a lot of good things on the court.”

The New York Knicks implemented the triangle offense this season and Hardaway Jr. is up for the challenge. “I think I’ll be able to adapt to it pretty quickly,” he said.

What about the team? An offense that depends on constant motion and big guards, he believes that they’ll be okay. “We have a whole new team and a whole new system. It’s predicated on how smart they are on the court.”

Hardaway Jr. spent the summer off-season working out, catching movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and was a member of the USA Basketball Select Team. He also checked out free agent movement. A Miami, Florida native, Hardaway is the son of former Miami Heat point guard, Tim Hardaway Sr. Being familiar with Miami, Hardaway watched LeBron James leave the Heat and return to the Cleveland Cavaliers—the team who drafted James in 2003. “It was a family decision I guess,” said Hardaway.

“I think that’s what he lives off of and that’s what makes him a great player that he is right now. He can play with that pressure in his hands. I can’t wait to see what the city of Cleveland does and how they accept him now and if he does win a championship for that city and how they’ll react.”

As for the Knicks, Hardaway Jr. had a successful rookie campaign with the orange and blue last season. An All-Rookie First Team selection, he genuinely sees the Knicks as a contender this season. “I know we’re one,” he said. “We’re one, two, three, four and five. I’m not trying to put anyone out there like that, but I think that our team is good and can compete with anyone out there.”

The Knicks are in training camp at West Point and will begin preseason play on October 8 and 11 where they’ll take on the Boston Celtics in Connecticut. They open up preseason play at Madison Square Garden on October 13 when they host the Toronto Raptors.