The New York Knicks are on the rise after a top-five finish in the East that ended with a trip to the second round of the playoffs. The front office hasn’t made any major moves this offseason, but that could soon change with the team’s draft assets.
Leon Rose’s patience in going after a star has resulted in New York being connected to every player that could hit the trade market, with the hottest name being Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP hasn’t requested a trade from the Sixers, nor has Daryl Morey shown any inclination to trade him, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning.
Whether at the trade deadline or next offseason, the Knicks could make their long-awaited move for a star in the next year. If that happens, it’s almost a guarantee RJ Barrett will be included in the package, given his contract and inconsistency since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2019. If Barrett’s 2023-24 season is another up-and-down year, he could be on the move.
Stars the Knicks could swap RJ Barrett for at the 2024 NBA trade deadline
4: Luka Doncic
The Mavericks had a busy offseason, but will it be enough to produce a winning season with Luka Doncic at the helm? Dallas is one year removed from making a run to the Western Conference Finals, but the team has since lost a key player from that season, Jalen Brunson.
In a move of desperation to put a star beside Doncic, the Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving last season and signed him to a two-year, $126 million deal in free agency. Irving is undoubtedly a star-level player, but in the past few years, he’s made more news for his actions off the court than on it. It could happen, but it’s tough to envision an entire season passing in Dallas without controversy.
Including 2023-24, Doncic has three full seasons left on his contract before he’ll have a player option to decide on in the summer of 2026. Not only do the Mavericks need to have a winning season after tanking to avoid the play-in tournament last season, but they need stability. Banking on a Doncic-Irving star duo to bring that stability could be an epic fail for Dallas.
Doncic isn’t one of the top names predicted to request a trade before the February deadline, but he should be on New York’s radar. Maybe Doncic and Brunson could take the court as teammates again after all.
3: Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell has been on New York’s trade radar for a few years now. After the Jazz suffered yet another first-round playoff exit in 2022, there was speculation Utah could tear down the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert duo. That speculation was confirmed when the Jazz got a monumental haul from the Timberwolves in exchange for Gobert.
New York and Utah went back and forth in trade talks for Mitchell over the next two months before Cleveland swooped in to meet the Jazz’s three unprotected first-round picks demand. The Knicks were mocked for not trading for Mitchell, although New York got the last laugh by eliminating Mitchell and Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs.
Another disappointing first-round exit with a new team led to questions about Mitchell’s future with the Cavaliers. He’s eligible to sign an extension this offseason, but the real question is if he’ll extend with Cleveland next summer. If the Cavaliers aren’t in a position to transfer their regular season success to the playoffs for a second straight year, Mitchell could look for an out in February.
After 2023-24, Mitchell will make $34.8 million in 2024-25 before having a $37 million player option in 2025-26. With Cleveland knowing he’ll be on an expiring contract next summer, the Cavaliers may have to cut their losses and trade him less than two years after acquiring him.
New York opted to extend RJ Barrett last offseason rather than include him in a trade for the star guard, but maybe he’ll still wind up being packaged in a deal for Mitchell.
2: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo caught the attention of the entire NBA when he said in an interview he won’t sign an extension with the Bucks unless they’re still on track to contend for a championship. He could decline his player option to become a free agent in 2025, or if push comes to shove in Milwaukee, he could be traded before then.
The two-time MVP should be at the top of New York’s wishlist. Antetokounmpo’s regular season success has translated over to the postseason, where he’s led the Bucks to a title and won the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award in the process. In 79 playoff games, he’s averaged 26.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, shooting 52.7% from the field.
The Knicks made a push at reuniting with Giannis’ older brother, Thanasis, this offseason when he was a free agent. New York’s 2014 second-round pick decided to re-sign with Milwaukee on a one-year deal. The Bucks struck gold when they drafted the better Antetokounmpo brother, but the Knicks’ front office would do the same if they managed to trade for Giannis.
Antetokounmpo is the exact superstar New York has been holding out for, but it seems likelier the Knicks will have a better shot at trading for another big-name player in the East.
1: Joel Embiid
The idea of Joel Embiid requesting a trade heightens each time a new page in the James Harden-Sixers saga is written. Expect the situation to get even spicier when Philadelphia reports to training camp with a disgruntled Harden.
It was reported a few weeks ago that Daryl Morey and the Sixers were no longer engaging in Harden trade talks. Philadelphia couldn’t get a return that would keep the team in good standing, and with Embiid’s prime on the line, the Sixers believe keeping Harden is the answer. That’s good news for the Knicks and every other team that’s prepared to make a run at the reigning MVP if he hits the trade market.
Barrett should be the biggest Knicks name in a trade for Embiid, accompanied by either Quentin Grimes or Immanuel Quickley. If Morey decides to do business with Leon Rose and New York, he will want to wipe the Knicks clean. He’s made it difficult enough to trade Harden, who has done everything he can to make it clear he doesn’t intend to play another game for the Sixers.
Embiid’s playoff resume has New York fans wondering whether or not he’s worth going all-in for, and that concern makes sense. However, Rose’s preexisting relationship with Embiid and his stockpiling of assets to use in a trade has signs pointing toward New York preparing to make an offer for the 29-year-old center.
Barrett turned 23 this summer, so he could still become the kind of player the Knicks hoped he would be when they drafted him four years ago. Another inconsistent season from him could push New York to move on from him and do so for a star-level player. If one of these four players becomes available, Barrett’s time in New York could come to an end.