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Report: Execs believe “mediocre” Knicks have master plan for superstar

ByJordanna Clark|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks (C) speaks with players during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 4, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) 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.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks (C) speaks with players during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 4, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) 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.

To start the 2022-23 season, the New York Knicks have been the exact definition of average. The Knicks are 5-5 on the season, 5-0 against teams below .500, and 0-5 against teams above .500. New York’s headed towards another mediocre season, but that isn’t a surprise.

The Knicks had the chance to change that during the offseason, but the front office wasn’t willing to meet Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz’s demands for Donovan Mitchell. New York was reluctant to include three unprotected first-round picks. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks weren’t willing to include both RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes in a deal as well.

With Mitchell instead being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York is back in pursuit of a star with its treasure chest of eight first-round picks.

Shams Charania of The Athletic echoed that sentiment ahead of the Knicks’ game against the Nets.

Knicks are in pursuit of a megastar with surplus of first-round picks

Charania said that NBA executives around the league believe that the Knicks are waiting for another megastar to become available. As he noted, Donovan Mitchell was someone that Leon Rose had his eye on since taking over as president of the organization. In retrospect, it’s surprising that the Knicks chose to not proceed with a deal, especially now that Mitchell’s off to a red hot start in Cleveland.

A player that should be on New York’s radar is Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He isn’t a megastar, but the 24-year-old has the makings of being a star in today’s NBA. The Thunder haven’t made SGA available in trade talks, but with Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson on the line in the 2023 NBA Draft, Sam Presti could decide to move on from the guard. If OKC comes to that decision, the Knicks need to strongly consider making a trade.

But when it comes to New York trading for a megastar, a situation that Leon Rose needs to monitor is what’s been brewing over in Brooklyn. There’s a belief that Kyrie Irving has played his final game as a Net and based on the organization hiring Jacque Vaughn as the head coach over Ime Udoka, it seems as if Brooklyn is preparing to start over.

Kevin Durant requested a trade over the summer before eventually deciding to stay with the team, although whether he was traded or not wasn’t up to him. Ever since KD and Kyrie signed with the Nets in 2019, the organization’s had a difficult time keeping things together. It isn’t unreasonable to think that Durant could become available sometime this season, especially since the team has been off to a rough start.

Knicks fans, this is nothing new. The hope has been that a star would wind up in NYC for years now. The Knicks have the draft stock to make something happen. We’re still at the start of the 2022-23 season, and based on past trends, it won’t be long until a disgruntled star wants out.

And when that happens, the question will then be if New York’s front office is willing to go all in or not.

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