Daily Knicks
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 7: Raimonds Vjonis the President of Latvia and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks pose for a photo before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 7, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 7: Raimonds Vjonis the President of Latvia and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks pose for a photo before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 7, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Pro: A Legitimate 1-2 Punch

The New York Knicks are one of the organizations that general managers study when figuring out what not to do. Over the course of the past 17 years, the Knicks have repeatedly abandoned long-term visions for a short-term fix that looked better on paper than on the court.

The difference between a trade for Kawhi Leonard and moves for the likes of Eddy Curry, Steve Francis, Jerome James, or Stephon Marbury is that a foundation would still be in place.

Leonard wouldn’t be joining a barren roster that has no hope beyond him; he’d be teaming with a fellow All-Star in Kristaps Porzingis. Much like Leonard, Porzingis is capable of producing 20-plus points on a nightly basis and playing elite defense.

Porzingis finished the 2017-18 NBA regular season with averages of 22.7 points and a league-best 2.4 blocks per game, also ranking No. 1 in opponent field goal percentage at the rim.

With two players who can both score and defend at star-caliber levels, the Knicks would have an advantage over a vast majority of teams. It’s rare that a franchise in the modern era has one of those players, let alone two.

If the Knicks are looking to return to prominence, then building a legitimate 1-2 punch of star-caliber players who should actually play well off one another would do the trick.

Must Read: Top 2018 NBA Draft target at every position

The question is: Will the New York Knicks pursue a trade for Kawhi Leonard?

Home/Knicks Rumors