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Knicks Trade Rumors: Rounding up the latest buzz as of Dec. 19

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 14: Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates his three point shot in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on December 14, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 14: Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates his three point shot in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on December 14, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – DECEMBER 18: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 18, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – DECEMBER 18: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 18, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Rumor: Executives Already Targeting Paul George

The New York Knicks executed a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2017 offseason. While it was the Knicks that sent a perennial All-Star to Oklahoma City that time around, it’s the Thunder that are now viewed as a franchise that could be shopping its star.

According to Thunder beat writer Royce Young of ESPN, rival executives are already wondering whether George will resurface on the trade market.

"The Thunder have caught the attention of many around the league, with rival executives already wondering whether George could potentially find his way back on the trade block if things don’t improve."

It’s still early in the season, but executives wouldn’t doing their jobs if they didn’t at least test the waters.

George is a four-time All-Star, a three-time All-NBA honoree, and a three-time All-Defensive Team selectee. He won the 2013 Most Improved Player award, and led the Indiana Pacers to a pair of Eastern Conference Finals appearances.

With the Thunder off to a slow start and George eligible to become a free agent in 2018, however, Sam Presti may look for value before he loses the 27-year-old for nothing in return.

It’s far from unexpected for the Thunder to face a learning curve with a big three that hadn’t played a single NBA game together before the2017-18 season. Due to the fact that both Carmelo Anthony and George are eligible to become free agents this summer, however, a sense of urgency exists.

If Oklahoma City is still on the outside looking in of contending come the trade deadline, then George being traded may not be an unrealistic expectation.

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