![New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Collin Sexton](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2135,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1350953729.jpeg)
Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – New York Knicks
4: Collin Sexton
Outside of Mitchell and Brunson, Collin Sexton is another name that’s been brought up in point guard rumors. Sexton played in 11 games this past season before undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
The Cleveland Cavaliers finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record and made it to the play-in tournament. Sexton’s injury didn’t leave the void that many thought would be left behind in his absence, but instead, it allowed for 22-year-old Darius Garland to have a breakout year.
Since Sexton is coming off a major injury, coupled with Cleveland’s success, there’s been speculation about him being part of a trade this summer. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the Cavaliers want to keep Sexton, but that he’s also expected to demand “starting guard money.”
As Scotto wrote, the Knicks could go after Sexton via a sign-and-trade deal, but Fischer contradicted that point. He wrote:
The Knicks are not expected to make a run at Collin Sexton, sources said. The Cavaliers have interest in keeping him, but finding a salary figure that extends the combo guard’s tenure in Cleveland may be tricky, especially after the Cavs’ 2021-22 success and the team’s growing cap figure.
Nothing’s been made official, but it seems like Sexton’s going to stay in Cleveland, and even if he doesn’t, it doesn’t appear as if he’ll be making his way to New York.
At the age of 23, he still has plenty of basketball left to be played, but his comeback from a torn meniscus is concerning. He wouldn’t be a bad option for the Knicks, but it would be a risky move, which is likely why the front office has backed away from a possible trade.
New York Knicks</a>, who came up short of reaching the play-in tournament. The silver lining from 2021-22 was RJ Barrett, who emerged as the team’s most dominant player in the second half of the year.</p>
<p>The Knicks’ young core has a lot of potential for the future, starting with Barrett. New York’s in pursuit of a point guard to add to the roster this summer, but if that doesn’t happen, Immanuel Quickley proved at the end of last season that <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/04/20/knicks-allow-immanuel-quickley-follow-tyrese-maxey-footsteps/">he’s capable of growing into the starting point guard role</a>.</p>
<p>There’s a lot to be excited about and because the Knicks are the Knicks, there’s been plenty of talk about moves that the team could make during the offseason. New York’s been linked to players like Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson (to name a couple), but based on the past, fans shouldn’t get too attached to the idea of any player in particular joining the Knicks.</p>
<p>And based on what Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer wrote <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10037274-latest-nba-offseason-intel-does-og-anunoby-want-out-of-toronto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in his latest piece</a>, New York fans need to temper their expectations. Let’s analyze what Fischer had to say.</p>
<h2>5 main New York Knicks takeaways from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer</h2>
<h3>5: D’Angelo Russell</h3>
<p>D’Angelo Russell’s career started in 2015 with the Los Angeles Lakers and since then the point guard’s played for the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and now the Minnesota Timberwolves. Why not go ahead and add the Knicks to that list?</p>
<p>The 26-year-old is owed $31.4 million in 2022-23 before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. Russell played a big role in leading the Nets to the playoffs in 2019 and could return to New York to help get the Knicks back in the postseason.</p>
<p>He’s not at the top of the team’s list, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not a viable option. Fischer wrote:</p>
<blockquote class="left ampstart-left">As the Knicks work down the list of their point guard options, rival executives have pointed to Minnesota Timberwolves starter D’Angelo Russell as a potential lower-level trade target. New York’s front office recently added former Minnesota president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, who once chased Russell in free agency and later traded Andrew Wiggins to Golden State for the creative point guard.</p>
<p></blockquote>
<p>Marc Stein <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://marcstein.substack.com/p/a-slow-spinning-coaching-marketplace?s=r%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported (subscription required)</a> that the Timberwolves are open to trading Russell during the offseason. The guard averaged 18.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1 steal in the 65 games that he played in this past year for Minnesota. Russell shot 41.1% from the floor and 34% from the 3-point line.</p>
<p>The Timberwolves advanced past the play-in tournament and faced the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs in an exciting matchup, but Russell was essentially a non-factor. Ever since leaving Brooklyn, he’s struggled to find his footing.</p>
<p>His price tag for next season is high, but it’s a more feasible option than trading for Mitchell or signing Brunson to a contract worth $20-$25 million annually. Let’s look at what Andrew Wiggins has been able to accomplish in Golden State. Maybe Russell could enjoy a similar level of success in New York.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> An Eastern Conference PG option </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128448" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2135,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1350953729.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Collin Sexton" width="3200" height="2135" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1350953729.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1350953729-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>4: Collin Sexton</h3>
<p>Outside of Mitchell and Brunson, Collin Sexton is another name that’s been brought up in point guard rumors. Sexton played in 11 games this past season before undergoing surgery to <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/cavaliers-collin-sexton-out-for-rest-of-season-after-undergoing-knee-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repair a torn meniscus</a>.</p>
<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record and made it to the play-in tournament. Sexton’s injury didn’t leave the void that many thought would be left behind in his absence, but instead, it allowed for 22-year-old Darius Garland to have a breakout year.</p>
<p>Since Sexton is coming off a major injury, coupled with Cleveland’s success, there’s been speculation about him being part of a trade this summer. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the Cavaliers <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://hoopshype.com/lists/cavaliers-rumors-collin-sexton-caris-levert-kevin-love-trade-free-agent-nba-draft-targets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">want to keep Sexton</a>, but that he’s also expected to demand “starting guard money.”</p>
<p>As Scotto wrote, the Knicks could go after Sexton via a sign-and-trade deal, but Fischer contradicted that point. He wrote:</p>
<blockquote class="left ampstart-left">The Knicks are not expected to make a run at Collin Sexton, sources said. The Cavaliers have interest in keeping him, but finding a salary figure that extends the combo guard’s tenure in Cleveland may be tricky, especially after the Cavs’ 2021-22 success and the team’s growing cap figure.
<p></p></blockquote>
<p>Nothing’s been made official, but it seems like Sexton’s going to stay in Cleveland, and even if he doesn’t, it doesn’t appear as if he’ll be making his way to New York.</p>
<p>At the age of 23, he still has plenty of basketball left to be played, but his comeback from a torn meniscus is concerning. He <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/31/knicks-consider-trading-point-guard-collin-sexton-offseason/">wouldn’t be a bad option for the Knicks</a>, but it would be a risky move, which is likely why the front office has backed away from a possible trade.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Mitchell Robinson's future </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128452" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1239702283.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1239702283.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1239702283-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3: Mitchell Robinson</h3>
<p>Is Mitchell Robinson staying in New York? Or is he going to leave? There’s been a lot of going back and forth between the two options on social media. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported a few months ago that Robinson and the Knicks were continuing to discuss a contract extension, but there’s been nothing new on that front.</p>
<p>Several teams are in the market for a starting center and if Robinson becomes an unrestricted free agent in July, he’s going to have a number of suitors. His offensive game needs to expand, but he’s a solid rim protector and rebounder. And the fact that he’s only 24 is another bonus.</p>
<p>Fischer didn’t provide any insight into Robinson’s future in New York, but he did report that the Detroit Pistons “have an eye” on him. That’s not necessarily news, but it’s still important because free agency is set to begin a month from today. And <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/04/17/new-york-knicks-3-teams-sign-mitchell-robinson-free-agency/3/">if Detroit is still interested in Robinson</a>, that likely won’t change between now and July 1.</p>
<p>Similar to the Knicks, the Pistons have a solid young core. It’s been a while since Detroit was relevant, but with Cade Cunningham at the helm, the Pistons have a hopeful future. Not to mention, Detroit has the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft. If that organization throws Robinson into the mix, the Pistons are going to be a team to watch next year.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A Western Conference PG </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128454" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1399116333.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Jalen Brunson" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1399116333.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1399116333-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Jalen Brunson, Dallas Mavericks. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>2: Jalen Brunson</h3>
<p>The Dallas Mavericks made it to the Western Conference Finals but didn’t have enough to knock off the Warriors and advance to the NBA Finals. Behind Luka Doncic, Brunson played a key role in the Mavericks’ playoff surge.</p>
<p>Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 18 games <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/jalen-brunson-2022-playoff-stats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during the postseason</a>. He shot 46.6% from the floor and 34.7% from the 3-point line.</p>
<p>Just how much did the point guard make in 2021-22? $1.8 million. Yes, you read that right. He far outplayed his value, which is why he’s expected to command between $20-$25 million a year with his new contract.</p>
<p>Brunson’s set to become an unrestricted free agent, but even though Dallas doesn’t have a whole lot of cap space to work with (only a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://nypost.com/2022/05/24/mitchell-robinson-jalen-brunson-trade-a-knicks-pipe-dream/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$6.4 million taxpayer midlevel exception</a>, to be exact), the Mavericks are expected to re-sign him. Fischer wrote:</p>
<blockquote class="left ampstart-left">In the meantime, there’s a growing sense among league personnel that Jalen Brunson will return to Dallas following the Mavericks’ sprint to the Western Conference Finals.
<p></p></blockquote>
<p>That’s what Mark Cuban has been saying all along and if Dallas can get some more depth behind Doncic and Brunson, the Mavericks are going to be even more of a threat in the West. But as Fischer noted, Brunson would have “an unquestioned role as the starting point guard and lead ball-handler” in New York. With Doncic, that’s something that Dallas is unable to offer.</p>
<p>If Brunson enters free agency, the Knicks would have to make some moves to be able to sign the point guard, but he’d have free range in New York. But because he was drafted by the Mavericks in 2018 and has been with the team for the past four years, his loyalty is going to likely remain with Dallas.</p>
<p>Don’t count out the possibility of him joining the Knicks yet, though. Cuban is a savvy businessman and although the Mavericks have said that they’re not going to cooperate with sign-and-trade offers for Brunson, they may end up having to do so to prevent the point guard from walking for nothing. But as Marc Berman noted, for Dallas to be able to do that, the team would have to first trade other players to avoid going over the $157 million hard cap.</p>
<p>Regardless, if the Mavericks don’t re-sign Brunson, expect the Knicks to get involved.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The most popular trade target </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128445" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2129,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1353657730.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Donovan Mitchell" width="3200" height="2129" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1353657730.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1353657730-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>1: Donovan Mitchell</h3>
<p>The Miami Heat came up short in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, but there’s one player in particular who could be making the move to South Florida. Yes, that player is Donovan Mitchell.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>It’s a tale as old as time. The Knicks are linked to a superstar player/s during the season, just for those players to end up elsewhere.</p>
<p>It’s hard to not get your hopes up, but at the same time, disappointment is expected. As for now, Mitchell is still on the Utah Jazz’s roster, but <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/5-rumors-shake-new-york-knicks-offseason/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/01/donovan-mitchell-concerned-possible-new-york-knicks-trade-quite-yet/">there’s been plenty of talk about the guard requesting a trade</a>. Because of his New York roots, he’s been linked to the Knicks, but according to Fischer, that possibility is “highly unlikely.”</p>
<p>Sigh. It’s not as if New York was the definite landing spot for Mitchell, and there are still other moves that the Knicks could make during the offseason, but a lot of fans had their sights set on Mitchell. It’s looking like if Mitchell wants a trade, it’s going to be to Miami. Fischer wrote:</p>
<blockquote class="left ampstart-left">Even if Mitchell were to ultimately request a trade from the Jazz, he still has three full years committed on his contract before a player option in 2025-26. Plus, there’s healthy skepticism around the NBA that New York’s best offer for Mitchell would trump other teams’ pursuits, such as a potential package from Miami that would theoretically center around Tyler Herro plus other salary and multiple first-round picks.
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p></blockquote>
<p>If Mitchell were to be traded to the Heat, that’d be interesting. And realistically, it’s hard to think about why he wouldn’t want to play for a team that’s been close to winning a title over the past two years.</p>
<p>Who knows, though. As mentioned, we know that Mitchell will forever be tied to New York, but as Fischer wrote, a possible offer from the Knicks won’t be near as enticing as what the Heat would be able to provide.</p>
<p>And the Jazz don’t appear to be willing to let Mitchell go, but if he wants to leave, it wouldn’t make sense to keep him in Utah against his will. That’d be a tough break-up for the Jazz, who would try to get as much in return for the 3-time All-Star.</p>
<p>If your main takeaway from all of this is that Leon Rose and New York aren’t going to make a big splash during the offseason, you could end up being right. And for those who may be worried about the Knicks’ dilemma at point guard, don’t sell Quickley short.</p>
<p>If Fischer ends up being right, and he has been right plenty of times in the past, most notably about James Harden wanting out of Brooklyn, New York fans could look back on this article a year from now and be thankful that the Knicks didn’t make any major offseason moves. Somehow, this could all end up being a blessing in disguise.</p>
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