The latest New York Knicks rumors have the team interested in a Chris Paul trade over the summer. This could bring a lot of great things to the team.
On Thursday afternoon, Frank Isola reported that the New York Knicks have preliminary interest in making a run at trading for Chris Paul this offseason from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A trade of this magnitude would certainly have seismic impacts all across the league, but first and foremost it would drastically change the projected success the Knicks will have over the coming years.
The obvious negative impact this would have is on the Knicks’ books. Paul is owed $41 million next season and $44 million the season after. Paul’s contract was widely known as one of the worst in the league while with the Houston Rockets, but he’s changed his reputation in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder, largely thought to be trending toward tanking this year and trading off as many of their assets as possible, have been a surprise playoff contender under the tutelage of Paul.
One can fantasize about the impact Paul would bring to the Knicks and that it might be similar to that of what he has brought to the Thunder. There are similarities between the teammates Paul has in OKC and the ones he would have in New York. Mitchell Robinson likens to Steven Adams as a rim protector and rebounder. RJ Barrett is a young and budding star who excels with the ball in his hands much like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
There are several questions to be had over the potential of a trade — what would OKC be willing to take? What do the Knicks have to offer? — and those will be discussed at length over the coming months. A trade for Paul can’t happen until after the season, of course, as the trade deadline has come and gone.
Let’s look at the bright side. If a Paul trade were to happen, what three things would he bring to the Knicks?