NBA Rumors: It seems like it’s only a matter of time until the New York Knicks acquire a superstar via trade.
Heading into the 2023-24 NBA season, the New York Knicks are a team that many believe is a piece away from being a true contender in the Eastern Conference. They’re still expected to be competitive but for the most part, the anticipation is that they’re still a star away from being a legit threat to win the championship. But they may not have to wait long until they get their next star.
There’s not only a logical belief that the Knicks are going to be able to acquire a star soon (due to the amount of assets that they have at their disposal) but also a theoretical one. According to NBA insider Ian Begley, there’s a growing sense that the Knicks will eventually engage another team in trade talks for a star player at some point.
The big question, of course, in the back of Knicks’ fan’s heads is when that will happen and what star player that will be. Predicting when that could happen is the big mystery, though you’d have to imagine that with the talent of the supporting cast, it could be soon.
The most likely superstar target for the New York Knicks
Predicting the star player that the Knicks will target could be difficult. Though, considering the current circumstances around the league, there are a handful of stars that would theoretically make sense.
At least in my opinion, there are two players squarely at the top of the list – Joel Embiid and Donovan Mitchell.
Embiid is a player that many around the league are watching considering the level of uncertainty that is revolving around the Philadelphia 76ers situation. With the way things are trending in Philadelphia, no one would be that surprised if Embiid ended up demanding a trade away from the team in the next six months (depending on how this season ends up going for the team.
Mitchell is another player who has been linked to the Knicks in the past and has just two years on his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers (including this season). While there aren’t signs of discontent in Cleveland, there has already been a level of speculation that he could explore the option of leaving the Cavs. The Knicks are a natural landing spot considering his interest in the team last offseason (before he was traded to Cleveland).
New York is competitive, is an attractive city, and has the assets to acquire a superstar. It seems inevitable that the Knicks will acquire a star at some point in the next calendar year.