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New York Knicks: Pros and Cons of trading for Chris Paul

By Jeffrey Bellone

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to a foul during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to a foul during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 06: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 06, 2020 in New York City. The Thunder defeated the Knicks 126-103. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

CON: Price to acquire him

Taking on a contract worth close to $90 million over the next two seasons in the shadow of a global pandemic that has shuttered arenas across the country should come with a sweetener.

Chris Paul proved he still has gas left in his tank, but the 35-year-old All-Star is clearly on the back-end of his career. It would seem most prudent for the Knicks to explore a trade for him by asking for draft picks in compensation for absorbing his contract.

That said, Thunder beat writer Joe Mussatto wrote last week that the Thunder aren’t likely to attach draft picks to shed Paul’s salary, hoping his recent performance will increase demand for his services.

Who knows what the actual market will look like for the future Hall-of-Famer, but if the Knicks end up acquiring Paul by sending out draft picks and/or young players without receiving an adequate discount for his contract, it would be a net loss.

The Knicks aren’t one player away from competing for a championship. They wouldn’t be acquiring Paul to partner him with a star player who is already on their roster. A move for the Point God would help them move the needle in the positive direction in the near-term, but it can’t come at too much of a cost to the overall rebuild.

The Knicks have several young players and future draft picks to either develop or use as chips in a trade for a young star player. They can’t afford to spend too much of that capital in acquiring Paul.

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