Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Heading into the offseason, and not just for the New York Knicks, Damian Lillard is the pipe dream of all pipe dreams. If the Portland Trail Blazers get to a point where they’re open to listening to offers for Lillard, the Knicks are probably the team that would be able to offer the most in what Portland would be interested in.
If the Blazers are going to pivot toward a rebuild, they’re going to want lots and lots of picks. And that’s something that the Knicks are not short on. From the Knicks’ point of view, adding Lillard would be quite an interesting move for New York. The big question, however, is whether or not they would send Jalen Brunson to another team (or possibly Portland) in a potential move.
For as talented as Brunson and Lillard are, I’m not sure that’s a duo that would work together. But if the Knicks have the chance to land a player as talented as Lillard, I’m not sure you blink if it means having to part ways with Brunson.
The Knicks would never publically admit it, but I believe they’d be willing to go all-in for Lillard this offseason. And he would unquestionably make the team better.