Getty Image / Nic Antaya
After a disappointing 2021-22 NBA season, the New York Knicks bounced back in a big way over the past year.
They put together a record of 47-35 on their way to the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference and even won a playoff series for the first time since 2013.
Now the fans want more.
The Knicks were seen as the favorites in the second round against the Miami Heat, but were eliminated in 6 games as they struggled to find dependable scoring from anybody other than Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle.
With a clear need for an elite scorer and plenty of young players and draft capital available to offer, the Knicks were expected to spend this offseason trying to make a big move.
That move hasn’t come yet. So far, the biggest moves they’ve made were re-signing Josh Hart, trading away Obi Toppin, and signing Donte DiVincenzo.
It turns out those moves haven’t been all they’ve been working on.
According to The Athletic’s Fred Katz, the Knicks have contacted multiple front offices around the league with trade packages built around their young talent to try and land a star that is still in the prime of their career.
Something about today’s Knicks feels off. Maybe it’s that they’re not done.
Story here — with reporting on trades the Knicks are discussing around the league (and with a DISCOUNTED SUBSCRIPTION RATE inside the link): https://t.co/NINouGxxrn pic.twitter.com/unaVY8vJ04
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 5, 2023
Unfortunately for the Knicks, there just aren’t many stars available right now that are in their prime.
Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard all don’t really fit what the Knicks are looking for.
Maybe they could have tried to bring Kristaps Porzingis back, but he’s probably not the level of star they’re looking for.
If you work your way through the list of the league’s top 20 scorers from last season, the only ones that have seemingly been available this offseason are DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, and Pascal Siakam.
DeRozan is 33 and Siakam’s position is already filled by Julius Randle.
Lavine is 27 and coming off of a season where he averaged 24.8 points per game. He could be an option for the Knicks with the Bulls far from contention right now.
There have also been rumors about the Knicks potentially still ending up with Donovan Mitchell after missing out last summer, but it seems unlikely the Cavs would actually trade him after just a year.
It has been a pretty quiet offseason for the New York Knicks, but they could have a big surprise in store for fans if they are actually able to get a deal done for a star in their prime.