2. Kawhi Leonard
There might not be a bigger name in the NBA, or the basketball world, right now than Kawhi Leonard. Fans of the league just finished watching Leonard make one of the most improbable and impressive title runs, with the Toronto Raptors, in league history, and you can bet New York fans were dreaming of a future where Leonard is leading their team to such heights.
Leonard is without a doubt one of the best players in the NBA, and someone New York will go all out for in the next couple of weeks. He is the type of franchise-changing player that can take a team from the basement of the league to the playoffs. What’s even more promising for the Knicks is that if he joins the team he likely wouldn’t have to do it on his own.
Leonard averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 rebounds last season, which earned him an All-NBA Second Team spot. In the postseason Leonard took it to the next level, showing he has the ability to win when it matters the most. If he could lead the team to the playoffs, then he could make a little noise with them.
While no one seems to know where Leonard plans on signing this offseason, New York has said they are confident they can get a meeting with Leonard, and plan on doing everything they can to bring him to the Knicks. He could be just what the team needs to find its way back to relevancy again.