NY Knicks: The path to becoming a Superteam this summer

Steps 4 and 5 on how to make the NY Knicks a Superteam – Sign Kawhi Leonard

Step Four: Pick Up Mitchell Robinson’s Option

With Robinson only slated to make $1.8 million, he makes the most sense to try to protect in any potential Lillard Deal.

The Knicks could also look to keep Quickley and still afford Leonard, but his skill set would be redundant with Dame on board.

They keep Robinson and only have to spend $1.8 million on the starting center position.

Step Five: Renounce all other cap holds and non-guaranteed contracts to sign Kawhi Leonard

With a current roster of Robinson, Randle, Duarte, and Lillard (approximately $46.6 million in total salary), the Knicks have about $40.2 million to spend on Kawhi Leonard.

The Knicks would then have to use their MLE and veteran minimums to fill out the roster. There are definitely guys out there who would ring chase to help fill out that squad.

A starting five of Robinson/Randle/Leonard/Duarte/Lillard would be dangerous in the Eastern Conference.

Let’s make clear right now: No one is advocating trading RJ Barrett. He is a great young building block.

However, I would trade him tomorrow if the end result was Lillard, Leonard, and Randle playing together in New York next year. A fan who says they wouldn’t is just simply not being objective about the situation.

Leonard’s Clippers are in the conference finals this year. Lillard is a better number two than Paul George, and Randle is a better third option than whoever you want to call the third option on the Clippers.

The goal is to win championships.

Building a superteam with Lillard, Leonard, and Randle puts them very, very close. You may not be excited about the prospect of trading Barrett, but if Lillard and Leonard want to make this happen, fans and the front office alike have to strongly consider making it happen.

This does require two pretty major chips falling into place: Lillard demanding a trade and Leonard opting out and looking to leave Los Angeles.

Those are some pretty big ifs, but the Knicks have a path to superteam status if they happen.