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New York Knicks Offseason Strategy: Prey on the Weak

By Ken Tavarez

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 08: Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court during the second quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 08, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 08: Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court during the second quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 08, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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Sep 2, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul (3) drives between Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward P.J. Tucker (17) during the first half of game seven of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

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First I must give credit where credit is due. My boss, Knicks twitter legend, @JeffreyBellone, was the first to recommend the Knicks acquire Chris Paul. The main argument against trading for Paul is that his contract has 2- years, $85.6 million remaining on it. The last year is very scary as he can opt-in for $44.2 million when he’s 36 years old.

However, JB made a great point in explaining how having Paul on the Knicks roster makes all their other players better, particularly the young guns. It’s easier to develop the likes of Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett when they have a competent playmaker. This also makes sense when you consider the Knicks are going to spend $40 million in cap space on some combination of players this offseason anyway. Plus there isn’t a big-name free agent target on the horizon.

Under normal circumstances, you would be concerned with Sam Presti, the GM of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is known to extract the most value out of a trade. Especially when you consider that one of the few trades he has lost was to the Knicks was when he acquired Carmelo Anthony.

However, the reality is that his hands are tied. Even though Paul was second team All-NBA player, Presti and the Thunder want to get out from under his contract in the worst way. To make matters worse, there isn’t a market for Paul. With Doc Rivers now in Philly, that option doesn’t look likely. Aside from the Knicks, the only other team that might be interested is Paul’s old team, the Clippers. They are in win-now mode and desperately need a point guard. But they would need a third team with cap space, like the Knicks, to facilitate a trade.

The crux a potential Paul deal would involve Julius Randle, a 2nd round pick, and of course, some “cash considerations”. OKC could actually staple a draft pick to Paul’s contract to sweeten the deal.

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