After a regular season in which the New York Knicks exceeded all expectations, they fell flat on their faces in Round 1 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. New York was outmatched by the Atlanta Hawks and dropped the series 4-1. The offense was lethargic and the shots often times didn't fall for the Knicks.
They enter this offseason with plenty of cap space and four draft picks, including three in the top 32. Here are two trades the Knicks should consider making to help them take the next step after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Sign-and-trade for Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is set to become a restricted free agent this summer for the New Orleans Pelicans. Rumors had swirled at this past NBA Trade Deadline that both the Knicks and Bulls were on the phone with the Pelicans up until the finale of the deadline trying to see what it would take to pry Ball away from the Pelicans.
With Ball set to become a restricted free agent and the Pelicans having some cap issues themselves to work through, it's very possible Ball is playing elsewhere next year.
A sign-and-trade would benefit both sides financially and give the Pelicans something in return instead of them just losing Ball outright by not matching an offer sheet from another team.
In this deal, the Knicks would yield:
- Frank Ntilikina
- 2023 first-round pick via Dallas
- 2021 second-round pick (No. 32 overall) via Detroit.
Ntilikina was seldom used by the Knicks and Tom Thibdoeau in 2021, but there were still suitors for him at the deadline. Perhaps a change of scenery is exactly what Frank needs. The real prize here for the Pelicans are the draft picks, neither of which are the Knicks' own but picks they have acquired.
New York gets its point guard for the future while the Pelicans get something in return instead of losing out on Ball straight up in free agency.
Trade for Damian Lillard
It's okay to dream, right?
The term “disgruntled star” has popped up in recent seasons as a frequent term used in NBA circles. The Knicks could be in the market for one this offseason.
This, of course, is assuming the Blazers don't make a run in the playoffs this year and that Damian Lillard would want out in Portland. Both are questions that hang in the balance.
It would take quite the haul to lure the Blazers into dealing Lillard to the Knicks, or anywhere for that matter.
Here's how this trade looks:
Knicks receive
- Damian Lillard
Blazers receive
- Knicks 2021 first-round pick
- Mavericks 2021 first-round pick (Knicks own it)
- Knicks 2022 first-round pick
- Mavericks 2023 first-round pick (top-10 protected, Knicks own it)
- Frank Ntilikina and Obi Toppin
The price for a superstar of Lillard's caliber isn't cheap. We saw what the price of admission can look like when James Harden was traded from the Rockets to the Nets during the season this year.
New York gets its franchise, superstar point guard and the Blazers get a ton of future assets in the form of four first-round picks and two players already in the league.
Obi Toppin really came on at the end of the year for New York but with Julius Randle in the picture, there might not be enough room for both. Ntilikina could use the fresh start elsewhere.
It must be noted that this trade would have to officially happen after the 2021 NBA Draft because of the Stepien Rule, but terms and players could be agreed upon beforehand.
This offseason figures to be a critical one for the Knicks as they try to take the next step forward after bursting onto the scene earlier than expected in 2020-21. These two trade would help catapult them even further ahead.
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