BleacherReport’s Andy Bailey proposes a terribly short-handed New York Knicks package for Damian Lillard
It’s not surprising that a major outlet like BleacherReport would suggest the New York Knicks getting involved in a Damian Lillard trade. The Knicks have been thirsting for a superstar since Carmelo Anthony left the Big Apple.
The problem here is that New York simply does not have the assets to swing a superstar-level trade.
New York could still land their next face-of-the-franchise in this offseason, but more likely than not, that star will have to come via free agency.
The Knicks had a surprisingly successful season that saw them make the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They accomplished this through no small part from young players like RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and rookie Immanuel Quickley.
While all those young guns had great seasons, Andy Bailey here is overvaluing them. Barrett certainly looked more the part of a top-three pick than he did his rookie season last year. His improvements as a shooter, decision-maker, and defender have recalibrated his ceiling.
Mitchell Robinson continues to be one of the best young shot blockers and interior defenders in the league.
Immanuel Quickley has shown that he’ll go down as one of the greatest thefts from the 2020 NBA Draft and could finish his career with a few All-Star appearances under his belt.
Unfortunately, these are the types of players that are best suited to play alongside a true number one option, not to make a package to trade for one. None of these players even outplayed Julius Randle for the Knicks— it’s a far cry to expect them to reach a level where this trade wouldn’t seem like a complete bust for the Blazers.
The two first-round picks and the pick swap lose value when you factor in the fact that they’ll be coming from a team that just added Damian Lillard to the roster. The Knicks will have to bulk up their free agency pitch if they’re to add a true star this offseason.