NY Knicks: Predicting the 5 most likely Stars to come to NY in offseason

<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Raptors Get</div> <div class="info">Kevin Knox</div> <div class="info">Frank Ntilikina</div> <div class="info">2022 NYK 1st Rd Pick (Lottery Protected)</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>I think there’s teams out there who’d be willing to give up more than that, I just hope the Knicks don’t fall in love with the idea of having Kyle Lowry and trade away the farm.</p> <p>Signing and trading Frank Ntilikina to Toronto makes sense as he just fits the mold of a typical Raptors guard in their system.</p> <p>Kevin Knox would provide Toronto with a nice depth wing who can hit a corner 3 and would have more of a chance to make it into their rotation than he does in New York.</p> <p>The first rounder the Knicks would be moving is likely to be in the 20’s, so the lottery protection I put on the pick should be useless…</p> <p>But just in case the Knicks implode next year, at least we keep our draft pick in 2022.</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/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Chris Paul - Signed as Free Agent </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_119133" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-119133" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1320254202.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks, Chris Paul" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1320254202.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1320254202-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks, Chris Paul (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2>NY Knicks Star Target #2 – Chris Paul</h2> <p>My colleague here at Daily Knicks, Mark Nilon, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/09/ny-knicks-3-free-agents-stay-away-offseason/">thinks NYK should stay away from Chris Paul</a> no matter the cost.</p> <p>I, on the other hand, think he would take the Knicks from a team that struggled in the postseason to one that could possibly win a round or two in the playoffs.</p> <p>It’s been reported that CP3 will be opting out of his player option in 2021 in search of a longer-termed deal.</p> <p>While Chris Paul has been a difference maker no matter where he’s played, paying any player in his late 30’s is a gamble.</p> <p>Especially when that player is going to be looking for a contract in 9-figure territory.</p> <p>If Paul does ultimately opt out of his deal, I would have to imagine that the Suns, who originally traded for him last offseason, would do anything it took to retain him after he transformed their team from one that missed the playoffs last year into one that finished the season as the 2nd best team record-wise in the Western Conference.</p> <p>That being said, I doubt the Knicks out-bid the Suns.</p> <p>If New York can sign Paul to something in the vicinity of 3-years, $90 million with the 3rd season being a team option, I think I’d be content with that.</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/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> DeMar DeRozan - Signed as Free Agent </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_119134" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-119134" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1316248816.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks, DeMar DeRozan" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1316248816.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1316248816-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks, DeMar DeRozan (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2>NY Knicks Star Target #3 – DeMar DeRozan</h2> <p>If you asked me a year ago if I would have wanted <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/derozde01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">DeMar DeRozan</a> on the Knicks, I wouldn’t have been able to say ‘NO’ fast enough.</p> <p>I just didn’t see him matching their timeline and the fit next to RJ Barrett and Julius Randle would have been awful as prior to this season, the 3 were viewed as non-shooters.</p> <p>Now, I am much more open to the idea because both RJ and Randle shot above 40% from 3-point land this year and DeRozan also fits Coach Thibs’ system in that he’s a playmaker from a spot other than the point guard.</p> <p>If the Knicks acquired another high-level scorer that shoots well for their starting point guard position, DeRozan would be a tremendous option on the wing for New York.</p> <p>DeRozan played essentially every position 1 through 4 this year and had one of his best playmaking seasons of his career.</p> <p>He averaged 7 assists per game and kept up his regular 20+ point per game scoring average while averaging the fewest turnovers per game since before he became a primary ball handler on any team he’s been on.</p> <p>There were rumors that the Knicks were interested in pursuing him last offseason had he opted out of his contract, but alas, he did not.</p> <p>Now that there’s nothing holding either of the parties back, it could be a direction the Knicks go this offseason.</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/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Damian Lillard - Blockbuster Trade </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_119135" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-119135" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1020,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1320430348.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks, Damian Lillard" width="1600" height="1020" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1320430348.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1320430348-768x490.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks, Damian Lillard (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2>NY Knicks Star Target #4 – Damian Lillard</h2> <p>DAME TIME!</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"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_119125" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/DailyKnicks/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Currently, via Vegas odds, the Knicks are actually the favorites to land Damian Lillard if he’s made available.</p> <p>I would die a happy man if Dame came to NY and won us a title, as he’s my favorite player in the NBA.</p> <p>I’ve <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/04/ny-knicks-2-trades-damian-lillard-to-ny/">explored a number of trades for Lillard</a> before and while I do think the Knicks could pull it off without gutting themselves entirely, the likelihood of a trade happening is slim.</p> <p>Reason being, a trade for Dame is the type of deal you make when you’re one big move away from winning a title.</p> <p>It pains me to convince myself against Dame coming here, but it just doesn’t make a ton of sense.</p> <p>Now, if it was a 2-for-1 situation and the Knicks were also signing Kawhi Leonard in the offseason, I’d be all for the trade.</p> <p>Comparing a deal for Dame to the one for Melo years ago is silly, because if you look at what the Knicks were left with both on the team and for the future, they were decimated entirely by the Melo deal.</p> <p>Whereas the Knicks would likely be left with RJ Barrett, one of Obi/IQ/Mitch, and still have plenty of picks moving forward if a deal were made for Lillard.</p> <p>Either way, I don’t see it happening, but boy do I wish it would.</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/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Kawhi Leonard - Signed as Free Agent </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_119136" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-119136" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1209,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1319518543.jpeg" alt="NY Knicks, Kawhi Leonard" width="1600" height="1209" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1319518543.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1319518543-768x580.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NY Knicks, Kawhi Leonard (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2>NY Knicks Star Target #5 – Kawhi Leonard</h2> <p>The rumors of Kawhi to the Knicks started to swirl a bit as soon as the Clippers lost the first game against the Mavericks in the first round.</p> <p>After they lost the second game…the rumors wouldn’t stop online and in the media.</p> <p>Since then, obviously the Clippers ended up winning that series 4-3, but the Mavericks were one great player not named Kristaps Porzingis away from destroying the Clips and giving them no hope.</p> <p>Now, LA is down 2-0 yet again but this time against the Jazz, so the rumors should begin to pick back up again soon.</p> <p>Surely a first round exit would guarantee Kawhi leaving the Clippers and I don’t think a second round exit would result in anything much different.</p> <p>If the Clippers don’t make the finals this year, I doubt Kawhi sticks around…but then again who knows.</p> <p>He’s from Los Angeles and just purchased a new home in the area so I’d have to imagine he wants to stay, but of course the Clippers would have to present him with a winning situation also.</p> <p>If the Knicks were to be able to sign Kawhi, only then should they look to perhaps trade for a 3rd star like a Damian Lillard.</p> <p>That being said, I doubt Kawhi opts out and he’s gonna give LA one more chance to surround him with what he needs to win a title.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Ranking the 5 most valuable players on today's roster" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/08/ny-knicks-5-most-valuable-players-roster/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/11/ny-knicks-5-most-likely-stars-to-ny/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/08/ny-knicks-5-most-valuable-players-roster/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Ranking the 5 most valuable players on today's roster </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">