The New York Knicks are looking to become true title contenders. Adding Jalen Brunson helped them vault to the fifth in the Eastern Conference and reach the second round of the playoffs, but they are not satisfied. The Knicks want to more and added a few pieces this summer. They have the draft capital and young talent to trade for a star but have been unable to find the right deal. Could they wait until next summer’s free agency?
The group of players hitting the open market is strong right now, but dwindling. Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Domantas Sabonis have already inked new long-term deals. More will come as the offseason winds down.
The Knicks could create significant cap space to acquire a marquee free agent. Josh Hart’s extension will cut into their room, but New York has plenty of tradeable contracts. If a superstar chooses the Knicks in free agency, they could easily find the space to sign him, but who should New York go after?
Best free agents the New York Knicks could target in 2024
5. Kyle Anderson
This is the most realistic free agent for the Knicks on the board. Superstar free agency is becoming a thing of the past as players take the guaranteed money on an extension and ask to be traded. Next summer features a few interesting cases that may prove that wrong, but the Knicks would have to do some maneuvering to create that kind of room too.
Anderson is set to make $9.2 million in the final year of his contract, and he will be looking for a raise on the open market. Expect him to command more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which could put the Knicks in the driver’s seat.
Kyle Anderson is a connector that fits on any team. Last season with the Timberwolves, he averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 28.4 minutes per game. The 6’9 forward could back up Julius Randle and play in any unit. His ability to do a bit of everything would fit nicely on the Knicks’ versatile roster.
Adding Kyle Anderson is a reasonable move if the New York Knicks decide to keep their roster intact and add on the edges, but what if the front office wants to make a bigger splash?
4. OG Anunoby
Anunoby will likely become an unrestricted free agent in 2024. His extension is limited by the CBA to four years at $116. 9 million, but he can get significantly more on the open market. The 6’7 wing will likely play out this season at $18.6 million before declining his player option for the 2024-25 season and testing free agency.
Anunoby is an elite defender that averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 35.6 minutes per game last season. He is a career 37.5 percent 3-point shooter that can guard any player on the floor. Every team in the league wants OG, but what team will be willing to pay him next summer?
Do not be surprised to see the 6’7 wing get $30-plus million per season in his new contract. He isn’t a max player, but Bruce Brown just got $22 million. The cap is rising quickly and teams are willing to spend because those deals will look like bargains in a few years.
The New York Knicks need an elite wing that impacts play on both ends of the floor. Will they be able to sign OG Anunoby away from the Raptors? He wants a larger offensive role, and the Knicks could offer it to him as they look to take the next step.
3. Pascal Siakam
The Raptors just lost Fred VanVleet in free agency, and they have several franchise-altering decisions to make over the next 12 months. Keeping Anunoby is just one piece of the puzzle. Siakam is in the final year of his contract, and the team has to decide how to move forward.
The 6’9 forward wants to stay with the Raptors and sign a long-term deal, but that has not happened yet. Do the sides reach an agreement? If not, Toronto should put Siakam on the trade block. It remains to be seen what they can get in return if he is unwilling to re-sign with his new team.
If Pascal Siakam hits the open market, he will be searching for a max contract. The Knicks could just trade Julius Randle to Toronto or elsewhere to make room to sign the two-time All-Star. Reports suggest he wants to stay with the Raptors, but that does not mean Toronto wants to give him a max deal. If no extension is reached, the Knicks could quickly become serious players in the Siakam sweepstakes.
Pascal Siakam would have to replace Julius Randle in New York. He may not be the best fit, but it is hard to turn down a star talent.
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.
1. LeBron James
LeBron has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, but the 38-year-old could be on the move. He wants to be in Los Angeles with his family. That will keep him with the Lakers this season, but James has talked about playing with his son for years. Bronny’s recent health scare could slow down those plans, but if he declares for the 2024 NBA Draft, LeBron could be on the move to whatever team selects his eldest son.
The Knicks could have four first-round draft picks and three second-rounders next summer. They are unlikely to get the selections from the Wizards and Pistons, but New York having their pick plus one from the Mavericks could put them in a position to land the younger James.
LeBron coming to the Big Apple to play with his son sounds like the plot of a movie, but it could be a reality. The health scare likely only makes the all-time great more eager to spend time with his son. What better way than helping him navigate his rookie year in the NBA in what could be LeBron’s final season?
Will the New York Knicks land a marquee free agent next summer? It is way too early to tell, but expect the franchise to explore every avenue in improving their roster.
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