5 Trades Knicks should make to land a superstar in the Big Apple
By Tyler Watts
The New York Knicks have been rumored to be chasing a superstar trade (subscription required) for more than one year. They have a plethora of draft capital, young talent to entice the opposing team, and plenty of options for salary-matching. Donovan Mitchell rumors come out, and the Knicks are linked. Joel Embiid’s happiness in Philadelphia is the topic, and New York trade ideas come next.
Will they acquire a superstar? The Knicks have been cautious as they search for the right opportunity. They had a shot to land Donovan Mitchell last summer but did not make it happen. Damian Lillard, James Harden, and Pascal Siakam are all currently on the trade block, but no deal has become a reality. The Knicks are waiting for the right move.
That is difficult to find when trading for a superstar. There are only a handful, so the winning bid is always a monster price. The Knicks could be waiting for the right player, but at some point, the draft assets go away. New York should be eager to acquire a marquee talent, and there are certainly options to explore right now.
5 Trades New York Knicks should make to land a superstar in the Big Apple
5. Mitchell finally comes homes
The Knicks were rumored to be interested in Mitchell before he was traded to the Cavaliers last summer. The New York native wanted to play for the Knicks, but the deal never happened. Mitchell could be back on the market soon as rumors suggest he will not sign an extension to stay in Cleveland.
What could a deal look like to get him to New York?
This is a massive haul, but Mitchell is coming off arguably the best year of his career. The four-time All-Star is an elite scorer, and he led the Cavs to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference last season.
There are questions about a Mitchell and Jalen Brunson backcourt. Both are undersized guards, and that pairing could struggle in the playoffs, just as Knicks fans saw Mitchell and Darius Garland do for Cleveland last season. Will New York throw caution to the wind and acquire Mitchell anyway?
The Cleveland Cavaliers gave up three first-round draft picks, two swaps, Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji to land Mitchell. They are not going to sell low after his best season. The Knicks will be lucky if they can convince them to do it for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Isaiah Hartenstein, and three first-rounders. Expect the Cavs to demand the swaps too.
The New York Knicks likely pass on this trade and pursue a better fit with their current roster.