New York Knicks: How NY has transformed into the hottest team in the NBA

How the New York Knicks have turned it around: The future

The crazy thing is, the Knicks have ample opportunities to improve on this already impressive roster. Mitchell Robinson coming back and hopefully staying healthy bolsters this already top-five defense in the league.

They have oodles of cap space right now, something only a handful of teams in the league can say. While this year’s free-agent crop is not necessarily super tasty, they can still sign someone to a lower max ($28-$30 million) and free up another slot the following summer. The easy answer is Lonzo Ball. They were rumored to be very interested in the young point guard at the trade deadline and are expected to chase him in restricted free agency.

Ball does everything the Knicks value at a high level: he can defend, distribute, and hit his perimeter shots. Bringing in a third playmaker with RJ and Randle significantly improves their offensive outlook. Especially if they can bring in some more shooters.

They also have multiple picks for the first time in forever. The Knicks own their own first-round pick and the Mavericks’ first-rounder in the 2021 draft. Both of them project to be mid-range. They also own Detroit’s second-round pick, which will be in the low 30s, essentially a low first-round pick at that point. They could bundle those picks to move up in the draft, trade them for a younger star to add to this roster, or simply draft guys they like and horde cheap contracts. The sky is truly the limit.

I keep dropping trade hints because I do think the time is ripe for one. The Knicks have made short-sighted trades in the past that have done nothing but burn them. I am not proposing something like that, but to target a young, disgruntled star. As much as I love the Lonzo Ball fit for the team, a different guard should be on their radar. I think the next young star to demand a trade will not be Beal (not young but you get it) or Karl Anthony Towns, but De’Aaron Fox.

The Sacramento Kings have been dismal for his entire tenure there and his postgame comments mixed with in-game body language lead me to believe a trade request is inevitable. A package surrounding Quickley, Kevin Knox, and a couple of their 2021 picks should be enough to get the negotiations started.

Bringing back a sharpshooter like Buddy Hield in that deal could be a “two birds” type of situation. Just picture a lineup of Fox/Hield/Barrett/Randle/Robinson with guys like Bullock, Burks, Toppin, and Noel off the bench. That’s a top-three team in the East in my humble and non-credible opinion.

I’ll leave you guys salivating on that potential roster. Deuces.