NBA Trade Rumors: If the New York Knicks are prepared to make a godfather trade offer this offseason, there are six stars worthy.
The New York Knicks got a taste of high-level basketball and relevance once again in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but it quickly became clear that they still needed more talent on the roster to compete with the true championship contenders.
Heading into the offseason, that will be the goal for the Knicks. The good news is that the Knicks have plenty of trade assets to get creative with.
The New York Knicks have a surplus of trade assets
They have a plethora of young players that the team may or may not be open to trading this offseason – Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson, and Immanuel Quickley. They also have eight future first-round picks that are trade-eligible this offseason.
In short, the Knicks have options. If the Knicks were going to create a godfather offer to land a star player, there are certainly a few stars that could be worthy of such interesting. We explore six heading into the offseason.
OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
At least on the surface, it’s easy to say that OG Anunoby isn’t worth a potential godfather offer from the New York Knicks. However, when you consider that he’s one of the best two-way players in the league and more capable of an offensive scorer than he gets credit for, there is reason to believe that he can still improve as a star player. Especially in a system that would be more built for him.
And if the Knicks wanted to acquire a less profile player, which could potentially cost significantly less on the trade market, Anunoby could be that target. I would imagine that a package centered around one of the team’s young players (Quentin Grimes or RJ Barrett) and a couple of future first-round picks likely gets it done.
Is that something the Knicks would be open to?
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
There was a time a few years ago when it seemed that Bradley Beal was atop every team’s wishlist heading into the offseason. However, in recent years, that has pretty much tempered. Part of that is due to injuries, drop in production, and the fact that he’s never actually pushed his way out of town – and there remains little hope that he ever will, especially after signing a supermax extension with the team last offseason.
Nevertheless, he’s a player that the New York Knicks should absolutely check in on this offseason. New York has more than enough assets to get a deal done for Beal and he’d be the exact player that the Knicks desperately needed in the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat.
The big question that New York would need to answer is whether adding Beal alone would make the Knicks a legit contender in the Eastern Conference. But that could be difficult to answer. Beal may not still be on the same level as some of the other names on this list but he’s still one of the best offensive layers in the league.
And if the Knicks want to fix their late-game offense, Beal would be one of the better targets in that sense this offseason.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
For two very different reasons, both the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks will enter the offseason in hopes of making subtle changes to their roster. The Knicks will be trying to make the jump to contender status while the Wolves will be looking to figure out the unnecessarily difficult puzzle that their roster construction has suddenly become. And there’s reason to believe that Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert may not be able to coexist together.
I don’t believe that the Wolves will enter the offseason with trading KAT as their No. 1 goal, but if the right deal comes around this team isn’t in a position where they could simply decline – especially considering how much they gave up to acquire Gobert in the first place last summer.
The Knicks could replenish some of the draft capital the Wolves lost in the Gobert trade and Minnesota would give a player that never truly reached his ceiling in return. Maybe the Wolves also get a young big such as Obi Toppin that could be a better fit for Gobert on the floor.
I’m not sure KAT truly answers all the concerns that the Knicks have right now but he’s certainly a better player than Julius Randle at this point in his career. If KAT or Randle is going to take another step in their respective games, you’d have to assume it’ll be KAT.
Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
During his tenure in Phoenix, Mikal Bridges proved that he was a good player. However, during his short time with the Brooklyn Nets, he’s making a case that he should be considered as a star. Or, at the very least, as an emerging one. In his 27 games played after being traded to the Nets at the NBA Trade Deadline, Bridges averaged 26 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 48 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from 3-point range. If he’s not a star, he’s at least putting up star-like numbers.
Heading into the offseason, that’s not something that should be ignored. Even less so for a team like the New York Knicks that will be looking to add a star. Bridges might be one of the best and most efficient scorers in the league and was sent to Brooklyn as a piece that is supposed to start a new rebuild. I simply don’t buy it.
I don’t believe that Bridges is going to be the centerpiece of a new build in Brooklyn. I think the most likely outcome is that he plays well and is eventually flipped to another team as the Nets attempt to recoup some of their lost assets.
Maybe that’s something the Knicks could help with. Bridges would be an intriguing addition to this team and would answer a lot of the team’s down-the-stretch issues.
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
At least in my opinion, there are two pipe dreams that every team in need of a superstar should have atop their wishlist heading into the offseason. And the first is Damian Lillard. Who knows if the Portland Trail Blazers end up shopping him or even trading him this offseason, but if it does get to that point I would be extremely shocked in the New York Knicks weren’t at least in the conversation as a potential landing spot.
Sure, there are questions about a potential Lillard-Jalen Brunson fit but you absolutely acquire the superstar player and figure out the rest later. The Knicks have the draft capital and young players that the Blazers would likely be interested in and there’s no question that if the Knicks have Lillard this season, they probably beat the Miami Heat (especially with the way Jimmy Butler looked toward the end of that series.
Lillard on the Knicks would be great for the city, great for the fan base, and great for the NBA. However, the big question, and perhaps the only one that matters, is whether he would be great for their chances of winning an NBA Championship.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
The second pipe dream that every team in search of a star should have atop their list is Jaylen Brown, who made a bit of a mess earlier this season with comments about his future. With the Boston Celtics still in the playoffs with a great chance to win the NBA Title this season, it’s almost impossible to predict what will happen this offseason in Boston. But there’s at least an outside chance that Brown is ready to move on from Boston. And if that ends up being the case, the Celtics would be extremely foolish to not trade him this offseason.
With just one year remaining on his contract after this season, it’s quite clear that he’s either going to sign a contract extension with the Celtics this season or he’s going to ask to be traded. I don’t think there’s really anything in-between. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But I just think that’s how this offseason is going to go down for Boston.
If he does end up asking for a trade, the Knicks should be willing to throw every last one of their assets at him. Brown is absolutely a player that could be viewed as a final piece for the Knicks.