NEW YORK -- New York Knicks president Phil Jackson will have a ton of money to offer free agents this summer. He'll also have nearly a dozen championship rings to show them.

But the way Jackson made it sound Thursday, the Knicks' big lure in free agency will be the triangle offense.

"It's not about who is going to have to have the most money anymore. That playing field has pretty much evened out, especially with the amount of money that's coming into the league. It's going to be who's attractive enough to get the people they want to play their style of play," Jackson told reporters in Los Angeles. "So establishing how you want to play basketball is important."

Essentially, Jackson is betting big that free agents will be drawn to New York by his triangle offense. So this summer will be a referendum of sorts on how the offense is viewed by today's players.

If you listen to what some of the Knicks (and ex-Knicks) have said this season, the triangle may have a bit of a popularity problem.

Here's ex-Knick J.R. Smith on the triangle last month:

"If you're a freelancing player and you like to play up and down, it's not going to suit your game. If you like to play in the half court, move the ball and stuff like that and sacrifice, then it is your situation. It just depends."

Smith may have a credibility issue when it comes to the triangle. But Knicks coach Derek Fisher raised similar questions about the triangle's Q rating earlier this season:

"These current players, they don't necessarily have something to say, 'This team won the championship last year or two years ago doing this; let's try to do it that way,'" Fisher said of the triangle offense. "We're having to create belief that actually you can organize and run this system along with being able to just play basketball in a way that will allow you to win and be one of the best teams in the league."

Speaking Thursday, Fisher told reporters in Los Angeles that he didn't believe the triangle would deter free agents from coming to the Big Apple.

"In free agency, the money tends to say a lot to guys. And guys make decisions based on what's best for them and for their families," he said. "We're selling who we are. The triangle is a part of who we are, but I don't think that a guy who knows how to play basketball will be afraid of having an opportunity to come and play [in New York]."

That may be true. But it's fair to point out this hasn't been a great showcase season for the triangle. New York entered play Thursday with the NBA's 29th-ranked offense.

Triangle supporters may point out that the Knicks would be one of the worst teams in the league no matter what offense they run.

Talent -- not offensive philosophy -- is the club's biggest issue.

But the question going forward for the Knicks is this: Will today's stars be attracted to the triangle?

The answer to that question will become clear in July, when the top-name free agents decide on their future home.

The Knicks, of course, have bet $60 million (Jackson's salary) that players will want to play in Jackson's offense.

Still, some longtime league observers wonder if the triangle has a place in today's NBA.

Earlier this season, when the Knicks had their full complement of players,

the triangle produced a statistical profile that seemed to be the polar opposite of most of the NBA's top offenses.

The Knicks led the league in midrange jump shots attempted and were among the bottom-dwellers in the league in points off drives.

So will today's free agents be attracted to that system, or will they want to play in a modern, pick-and-roll offense?

That's one of the biggest questions facing Jackson this summer.

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.