Image via Getty/Cameron Browne
The Knicks season is officially over. While the playoff run was shorter than most fans had hoped for, you can’t call this Knicks season anything but a success. They roared into the playoffs for the first time in years and proved that they have a solid core to build around for the future. While the season was surely a success, the playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks made one thing painfully obvious: the Knicks need a star.
Knicks fans were focused on the wrong team. 💀 pic.twitter.com/gLA2iUtMCn
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 3, 2021
Many thought Julius Randle might be that guy but this series showed his limitations. The Knicks need their Trae Young. A guy who will go out there and just win you a game. The good news for the Knicks is that this season will absolutely help bring stars to the city. The Garden is back and we all know every NBA really wants to shine in MSG.
More good news for the Knicks, is that according to Brian Windhorst, a NBA superstar is going to force their way to the Knicks in the next 12 months. The full quote is below:
I say within the next 12 months a star slash superstar player demands a trade to New York. And I don’t know who it’s going to be. I have some guesses. I’m not going to say right here. I’ll let you guys start thinking about that. Let’s just put it this way: League executives certainly have some guesses. And I say by next year’s trade deadline a player – a superstar, All-Star player – tries to force his way there.
Are the Knicks about the be fully back? It appears that way. No idea who that star player could be, but we decided to share some ideas for you guys.
Damian Lillard
Dame time in the Garden? We all know that Damian Lillard is one of the most loyal guys in sports and has consistently said he wants to play in Portland his entire career, but it might be time to rethink that outlook. The Knicks trading for Lillard is something that’s been thrown around for a few years but has never made more sense. The Blazers are on the verge of another playoff series loss and the Knicks are trending upwards. Dame is in the prime of his career and would be an absolute mega-star in NYC. This almost makes too much sense. Of course, the Blazers and Knicks would have to figure out a deal, which wouldn’t be easy, but if Dame finally demanded a trade, Portland might not have a choice.
Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal is the hot name in all NBA circles right now as his future in Washington comes into question. Beal has said all the right things when it comes to the Wizards and his future with the franchise, but the speculation will remain as long as the team isn’t winning. For Beal, a fresh start with a team on the rise could be exactly what he needs at this point in his career. For the Knicks, Beal is exactly the kind of star and player they’re missing on their current roster. With the Wizards season now over, all eyes will turn to Beal and his future with the team.
Kawhi Leonard
Did you know that Kawhi Leonard can opt-out of his contract with the Clippers this summer? Just imagine the rumors that will spark up if the Clippers lose this series against the Dallas Mavericks. We all know Kawhi is as unpredictable as they come and while he loves being home in Los Angeles, could he see an opportunity to jolt to the Knicks this summer? For the Knicks, this would obvioulsy be the star they’ve been searching for since Carmelo Anthony era came to an end. Let’s see if Kawhi and Uncle Dennis have their eyes set on MSG this summer.
Karl-Anthony Towns
This is an interesting target for the Knicks. It’s no secret that the Timberwolves have failed to build anything of substance around Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota, despite having a number of top picks in the draft. Yes, Anthony Edwards looks like the real deal, but the team has continued to struggle over the years and have failed to put together any sort of playoff roster. You have to wonder how many more years of losing KAT will stand for before he ups and demands a trade to a different situation. And with the Leon Rose/Kentucky connections with the Knicks, you can surely start to connect those dots.
Zach Lavine
Zach Lavine is coming off of a breakout, All-Star season for the Chicago Bulls, but the team success didn’t follow his stellar year. Lavine has been the subject of numerous trade talks over the past few years, and could be a good target for the Knicks as they look to bolster their roster going forward. The Bulls would obviously prefer to keep him, but with only one season left on his deal, would they risk letting him walk for nothing? They could be forced to move him just to get something back in a deal.