5 of the biggest “what ifs” in New York Knicks history

Throughout the illustrious history of the New York Knicks, fans have seen copious amounts of incredible moments, and players come and go. While these times were fun, what’s also fun is taking a look at what could have been.

While not all of these are necessarily fun, considering how realistic these scenarios were and the effects they would have had on the Knicks if they came true, it’s still interesting to think about all of the possibilities.

Some are more realistic than others, however, at one point or another these five scenarios had a chance of happening. All of these would have changed the course of history for New York whether it be for better or for worse.

5 of the biggest “what if” scenarios in New York Knicks history

5. What if the Knicks got the first overall pick in 2019?

At the time of the 2019 NBA Draft, the Knicks had the highest odds out of any team to receive the first overall pick and select Zion Williamson, one of the best prospects college basketball has ever seen. Instead, the Knicks were robbed of this opportunity and were instead given the third overall pick and selected RJ Barrett.

However, what if the Knicks were given the pick they should have gotten? Now, you can make silly arguments surrounding Williamson’s availability, but there is not a single doubt on earth that he is by far the superior player. This is no shade at Barrett, as he is a solid player, but we’re talking about a player who’s made two All-Star games in four seasons and is already one of the better players in the NBA.

Even outside of Williamson, what if the Knicks had, for some reason, decided to select Ja Morant, who is arguably a top-three point guard in the league already? These are fate-altering players who could have made the Knicks better than they currently are.

Obviously, Williamson and Morant have their own issues whether it be on or off the court that Knicks fans will tell themselves is worthy of having Barrett over them. However, you can’t help but see Barrett struggle mightily at times in his first four seasons and not wonder how things would have gone if the Knicks got the pick they were meant to receive.

What makes this crazier is that there are just so many variables that go into this. If the Knicks drafted Williamson, they probably don’t sign Julius Randle, and if they drafted Morant, they likely sign Randle, but what other moves are made?

This whole scenario is a mess and while RJ Barrett is a very fine player, it still would have been nice to watch either of these generational talents play in New York.