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.
4. Knicks get Zion to Big Apple
Zion Williamson was the subject of trade rumors this summer, despite general manager David Griffin denying his availability. The Pelicans have him locked in long-term, but they must keep him healthy to make a run.
Zion averages 28.5 games per season after four years in the NBA, so what is his value? The 6’6 forward has been unstoppable when he is on the court, but the injuries make things difficult. The 23-year-old won’t come cheap, but the Knicks may be able to land him with this package.
New Orleans gets an All-Star in return in Julius Randle, plus two role players and three first-round picks. It is a massive haul, but 23-year-old’s with two All-Stars appearances under their belt never get traded. The Knicks also have the advantage of offering some lesser first-round picks that make the package look better to Pelicans fans but will likely fall in the 20s or turn into second-rounders.
When on the floor, Zion is a significant upgrade over Randle, and the Knicks have plenty of depth to make up for losing Quickley and Grimes. Can New York keep Williamson healthy and on the floor? If so, this could be a home run move that pushes the Knicks into title contention. It is a massive if, but one worth gambling on if the Pelicans make Zion Williamson available.
3. Knicks win Damian Lillard sweepstakes
Lillard has requested a trade out of Portland, but the Miami Heat are rumored to be the only destination of interest for the seven-time All-Star. The Blazers are in no rush to trade him, and they won’t sell low on the best player in franchise history. If the Heat cannot make an acceptable offer, Lillard has to decide between staying in Portland or opening up his trade request to other teams.
Dame showed interest in the Nets to begin the offseason, but could he get on board with playing at Madison Square Garden if it meant contending for a championship? The Knicks could make a monster offer and help the Blazers clear Jusuf Nurkic off their books.
Lillard is an undersized point guard, so the Knicks would have to deal with having two sharing the backcourt. Dame’s limitless range should help on the offensive end of the floor, but can the duo hold up defensively, especially in the playoffs? It is a legit question, and one that should give the Knicks pause before making this deal.
The two sides swap undesirable assets with the Trail Blazers getting an All-Star in Randle plus a capable starting center and three first-round picks. Portland could quickly jump into contention if Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe continue to improve.
This is a risky move, but the New York Knicks must take a shot if they want to become true title challengers.
2. Siakam traded to Knicks
Pascal Siakam is entering the final year of his contract, and the Raptors have a crucial decision to make. Do they extend the two-time All-Star on a massive contract or look to move on? Fans have heard the trade rumors, but will the Raptors deal Siakam before February’s deadline?
Toronto did not trade Fred VanVleet last season, and he left in free agency. Will Masai Uriji repeat the same process with Siakam? The 6’9 forward wants to stay with the Raptors, but is Toronto willing to pay to keep him? If not, teams will be lining up offers.
Fans can debate how much better Siakam is than Randle, but he is the superior and more versatile defender. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau values defense, and Siakam could be just the option that helps New York get to the next level.
Giving up two first-round draft picks and an All-Star for a player on an expiring contract is risky. The Knicks would have a chance to lock him up long-term, but Siakam’s interest is unknown.
If they cannot land Damian Lillard or Pascal Siakam, the New York Knicks may stay patient. The front office has been waiting for a top-five player to become available, and that moment could be just around the corner.
1. Knicks land reigning MVP
Joel Embiid has not asked out, and the reigning MVP has no reason to rush out the door, but he could be without a choice soon. The 76ers have not advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs since Embiid arrived in 2014, and now James Harden wants out. Philadelphia is holding out for a greater return, but it may never come. If he refuses to play for the Sixers, things could turn ugly in the City of Brotherly Love.
If Philly slips out of contention, Embiid could lodge the next trade request. The 29-year-old is in the middle of his prime and wants a ring. His recent comments on winning sparked trade rumors, and the Knicks will be eagerly awaiting if Embiid asks to leave.
Daryl Morey is one of the league’s most experienced traders, and he is not letting Joel Embiid walk out the door without getting a massive return. The 76ers’ president of basketball operations will ask for everything and will only settle for the biggest haul he can wrestle from another organization.
The Knicks give up four rotation-ready players with varying degrees of upside and four first-round draft picks to get Joel Embiid. If it is a monster haul, but it instantly makes New York a title contender with Embiid, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle leading their charge.
Will the New York Knicks make a blockbuster move before February’s trade deadline? Expect the front office to keep exploring the market for the perfect deal. Does it happen? Stay tuned to find out.
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.