Answering 5 burning questions about Knicks’ 2023-24 schedule
By James Ryder
When will the Knicks play against trade/free-agent targets?
These days, it feels like just about every player with the potential to swap jerseys is rumored to have interest from the Knicks. To keep this slide brief, we will only highlight the games in which the Knicks will play the most notable names that have popped up in the rumor mill over the past year.
Let’s start with the player whose name can’t get off the lips of Knicks fans this offseason: Joel Embiid. It remains to be seen how much longer James Harden will be a Philadelphia 76er. Most people assume that once Harden is gone, it won’t be long before Embiid wants out of Philly.
Knicks fans will get to show Embiid some love at MSG, but not until mid-March (the 10 and the 12). If anyone is so bold as to take the trip to the “sixth borough,” they can cheer for both the Knicks and an Embiid trade request in Philly on January 5 and February 22.
Next, let’s talk about Donovan Mitchell. Yes, Mitchell was the most recent and serious All-Star target for the Knicks last offseason. However, he can very well be a target pretty soon once again due to his ties to New York, his impending free agency in 2026, and because he is rumored not to be interested in staying in Cleveland long-term.
The Cavaliers will face the Knicks three times this season. The first two games will be back-to-back days on October 31 and November 1. The former game is in Cleveland, while the latter is in NYC. The third game won’t be until March 3, and it will once again be in Cleveland.
Lastly, let’s highlight a player who has been seen in the rumor mill repeatedly. Zack LaVine and the Chicago Bulls will have three games against the Knicks. Their first matchup will be at MSG on January 3. The second game will be on April 5 in Chicago. The final matchup will coincidentally be the last regular season game for New York, a home game on April 14.