The New York Knicks reportedly believe the assets have been compile to trade for a star. Who are the realistic targets for the Knicks to pursue?
The New York Knicks are the single most star-starved franchise in the NBA. Playing in a market that should be welcoming and creating household names, the Knicks have struggled to consistently build around any one player since the infamous Patrick Ewing trade.
No commitments have been made just yet, but it appears as though the pursuit of said player is back on with a new and connected front office.
James Dolan hired Leon Rose to replace Steve Mills as team president mere months ago, but the wheels have already been turning. Rose, a longtime agent of big-name NBA players, has been quietly evaluating the landscape, but the acquisition of a star has been a widespread desire.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, some within the organization believe the Knicks have stockpiled enough assets to acquire a star in the near future.
"…some with the Knicks feel that they are incredibly well positioned to trade for a disgruntled star if one becomes available. “It’s the best path for us,” one front office member recently said."
This has inevitably sparked debates amongst Knicks fans who both want a star, but also see potential in the group that’s been assembled.
New York has a number of 22-and-under players with upside, including RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Mitchell Robinson. It also holds the rights to all of its future first-round draft picks, as well as first-round selections from the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers.
As such, the Knicks are in a position to either go all-in on the youth movement or compel an organization to part with its star in favor of the assets that Scott Perry accumulated.
The question is: Who could the Knicks realistically trade for?