New York Knicks: Pros and cons of making a push for the postseason

Con: Rushing The Process

The New York Knicks have a 22-year-old franchise player in Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old point guard in Frank Ntilikina, and a 25-year-old No. 2 scoring option in Tim Hardaway Jr. That has all of the makings of a long-term rebuild, especially with a 22-year-old franchise player.

If the Knicks were to make an inorganic push for the postseason by executing a trade, then they could do serious damage by rushing the process.

The biggest name that the Knicks have been linked to is Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker—the perfect example for this conversation. Walker would provide the Knicks with the star power at the point guard position, and would round this postseason-caliber team into form.

Trading for him would require the Knicks to part ways with either Ntilikina or a first-round draft pick, however, which would subsequently put premature pressure on Porzingis.

Getting to the playoffs could do wonders, but it could also do damage if it were inorganically achieved. Walker, for instance, is already 27 years of age, meaning the Knicks’ title window would need to open as soon as the 2018 offseason.

Without the necessary cap space to build around Walker, Porzingis, and Tim Hardaway Jr., that shortened window could cost New York a chance at sustainable growth into a contender.