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Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros and cons of targeting Kawhi Leonard

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Multiple teams are expected to contact the San Antonio Spurs about the availability of Kawhi Leonard. Should the New York Knicks join the discussion?

Just when it seemed as though the New York Knicks could execute a rebuild in peace, a superstar surfaced as a potentially viable trade target. It’s certainly an unexpected development, but All-NBA small forward Kawhi Leonard appears to have alienated himself from the San Antonio Spurs.

In a recent appearance on ESPN’s Outside The Lines, Brian Windhorst revealed that multiple teams are preparing to make a run at Leonard during the 2018 offseason.

Zach Lowe of ESPN quickly followed with a corroboration of Windhorst’s report, stating that teams will attempt to get something done around the 2018 NBA Draft.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Knicks will make a run at Leonard, but it’s at least a realistic possibility.

Normally, acquiring a superstar in the prime of their career would be a pipe dream for the Knicks. New York actually has a decent amount to offer the Spurs, however, which has inevitably birthed speculation from around the NBA community.

With a package centered around Frank Ntilikina, a top-10 draft pick in 2018, and a second first-round selection, the Knicks could potentially bring the Spurs to the table.

Whether or not a trade for Leonard would be worth pursuing is certainly a fair question. Leonard is an NBA champion, a two-time All-NBA First Team honoree, and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year award-winner, however, as well as a player who has seen a decline in market value.

For as special a talent as he may be, there are pros and cons to consider about a potential trade for Kawhi Leonard.

The question is: Should the New York Knicks pursue a deal?

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