2. Paul George
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both have player options for the 2024-25 season and are extension eligible. After four years of playoff disappointment and missed games, will the team sign up for a long-term commitment with their superstar duo? It seems unlikely that either leaves Los Angeles, but if the Clippers draw a line in the sand, things could get wild.
Both could be placed here, but predicting Kawhi’s plan is impossible. The 32-year-old suffered another knee injury at the end of last season, and adding him means shifting the way the entire team operates. It seems unlikely that the Knicks would do that, especially after the positive addition of Jalen Brunson.
Paul George is an elite two-way wing that pushed the Clippers to the conference finals in 2021. Yes, he has averaged 47.2 games per season over the last four, but his on-court impact is impossible to find. Can the Knicks convince him to play more? The 33-year-old could be motivated if he believes it can result in a championship.
The New York Knicks could go big fish hunting in free agency next summer, but Paul George is not the biggest name available. The marquee target could be attainable if that team is willing to draft his son.