Can the Knicks form a championship team through Zion, KAT, or Dame?

Knicks Star #3: Damian Lillard

This is a star-driven league and one of the best players in the league is none other than Damian Lillard. All eyes are on how the Trailblazers handle the last few years of Damian Lillard’s prime. How can the front office change the current roster to make themselves to a contender? But I predict that the Blazers will be making a realistic choice in the near future. After coming short in the playoffs for a long time, the Blazers may decide to get the best value for Lillard before his eventual decline.

Here’s a potential trade:

The Knicks would also include the 2021 1st Round (CHA) pick in this package.

Dame Lillard will take on Kemba Walker’s role and Obi Toppin would take over a lot of Julius Randle’s minutes.

POR may have a starting line-up of Kemba Walker, CJ McCollum, Robert Covington, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. While they lose the star power of Damian Lillard, they construct a more balanced roster. This will also give the Trail Blazers a chance to see how CJ McCollum can lead this team as the leader.

The Knicks, on the other hand, did not address their defensive problems in the playoffs from the offseason moves they made. But one other glaring weakness against the Hawks was the ability to make baskets when needed. Only Derrick Rose was able to attack the rim but the lead scoring Julius Randle could not buy a bucket when needed. Damian Lillard could be the finisher that the Knicks so desperately needed last year.

Trading for a superstar in this league without gutting your roster seems impossible in this league. The Knicks have done if before when Donnie Walsh traded for Carmelo Anthony. While the Knicks should be wary of the same mistakes, if there is a chance to roster one of these players, Leon Rose should make that happen.