Another offseason where the New York Knicks will be linked to any and every disgruntled star is here. Last summer, the Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks agenda was in full force for a couple of months before the Cavaliers swooped in and traded for the All-Star guard. The front office is now tasked with waiting to see which players may or may not be available this offseason.
Once the NBA offseason officially begins soon after the Finals wrap up, fans should start to learn a little more about the direction that the Knicks want to go in. Some players could (and should) be on the move, and there are also players that New York could bring in via free agency or a trade.
In terms of big-name stars, there are a few that the Knicks shouldn’t make a move for if they do become available.
3 stars Knicks shouldn’t trade for this summer if they become available
3: Damian Lillard
With no disrespect to Damian Lillard, if he does want to be traded from the Trail Blazers, it shouldn’t be to the Knicks. He’ll be 33 at the start of the 2023-24 season, but he proved once again this past season that he’s still one of the best in the game. Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 assists while shooting another career-high of 46.3% from the field and 37.1% from three.
Portland has the No. 3 pick in the draft and the organization is reportedly willing to trade the pick for a win-now veteran. If the Trail Blazers want to keep Dame (and they do), they need to do everything that they can (subscription required) to build a winning team around him this summer. If not, he could leave the only team that he’s played for since being drafted in 2012.
Lillard’s been connected to several teams such as the Nets and the Heat, as well as the Knicks because of their assets. New York got its point guard of the future last offseason in Jalen Brunson and he most definitely won’t be on the move this summer, but the idea of a Brunson-Lillard backcourt has been brought up. There’s no denying that Dame has the talent, but the Knicks will have a tight window to win a championship with him.
Is Damian Lillard the sought after star that New York should pursue if his time in Portland comes to an end? It doesn’t seem like it.
2: Trae Young
The Trae Young trade rumor mill has been out in full force. After trading for 2022 All-Star Dejounte Murray last summer, the Hawks struggled in 2022-23 but still managed to post a 41-41 record to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. Atlanta advanced past the play-in but was ousted by Boston in the first round.
Young and the Hawks had their fair share of drama this past season that included a rift between the guard and former head coach Nate McMillan, who was fired midseason and replaced with Quin Snyder. The move was viewed as a way to appease Young but that might not be enough to keep him in Atlanta. He signed a five-year, $207 million extension in 2021 and since then, the Hawks have suffered back-to-back first-round playoff exists.
Young still has three full seasons left on his current contract. He’s due $40 million in 2023-24, $43 million in 2024-25, and $46 million in 2025-26. He has a $48.9 million early termination option in the 2026 offseason that he could use to become a free agent. Is that really a contract that the Knicks should want to take on, especially with the new CBA?
The guard’s offensive inconsistencies as well as his lack of defensive presence are two other reasons why New York should pass on a Young trade. The Knicks need shooting and Young is a career 35.1% three-point shooter and shot 33.5% from deep this past season. He wouldn’t help much in that area. A Brunson-Young backcourt is an idea that shouldn’t be explored.
Let a team like the Lakers be the ones to land Trae Young if he is traded this summer.
1: Karl-Anthony Towns
It’s only the beginning of June and the Karl-Anthony Towns speculation has already gotten old. Yes, he has a connection with the Knicks as a CAA client and played under Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota, but no, New York shouldn’t trade for him if the Timberwolves do decide to make a blockbuster trade for the second straight summer.
Towns is a stretch five that can space the floor as a 39.5% career three-point shooter, which would be nice to see in New York’s offense. However, the four-year, $224 million supermax extension that he signed last summer means the Knicks would be taking on an absurd contract if a trade were to happen. KAT will be making upwards of $50 million between 2024-25 and 2027-28 (a $62 million player option).
The 27-year-old doesn’t have the playoff experience that New York should be seeking in a star, either. He isn’t responsible for building a winning team in Minnesota, but the Timberwolves haven’t made it to the second round since drafting Towns No. 1 overall in 2015.
Not to mention, Towns is coming off a season where he played only 29 games. If the Knicks are going to go all-in on a star, it needs to be for one that doesn’t have an extensive injury history.
The KAT trade chatter may end up not mattering at all because Minnesota could decide to not make him available in trade talks if he doesn’t request a trade himself. However, if a Towns trade does happen this offseason, it doesn’t need to be to the team that he grew up rooting for.
9 Players the New York Knicks gave up on way too soon
The New York Knicks gave up on these nine players way too soon, chasing win-now options and living to regret it in every case.