Breaking down Knicks' possible targets, including . . . Kristaps Porzingis?
Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday, March 18, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Among the coaches let go were an odd assortment of teams that had either won championships recently or were championship contenders — Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers the latest after Toronto’s Nick Nurse, Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer and Phoenix’s Monty Williams were dismissed. Lottery-bound Detroit and Houston also fired coaches.
The dissatisfaction among some of the top teams could provide a clue of what stars may soon be available. Is a change in leadership enough to run it back for these teams? Not likely since Philadelphia has already been beset by rumors that James Harden will bolt for a return to Houston — even if his preferred general manager is in Philly and he might hold sway in the choice for a next coach. Toronto has already talked trade in-season with some of their core pieces, most notably OG Anunoby. Phoenix and DeAndre Ayton have seemed destined for a parting. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton can jump from Milwaukee as free agents.
With the lottery order set this week, there are already signals being sent out from teams in the third, fourth and fifth spots — Portland, Houston and Detroit — that they would deal the pick for win-now pieces.
This is where the Knicks come in. As they seek to take the next step after a second-round ouster in the playoffs, are they seeking a win-now approach or continuing a build with their young core growing together? Those draft picks are available if the Knicks want to slow build. This is where I’d like to share a quote from team president Leon Rose or general manager Scott Perry, but, well, it’s the Knicks so there is no end-of-season recap from the front office.
But from whispers within the organization and outside we can get a pretty good guess of who they might be inquiring about this summer. Consider the stars the pieces that the Knicks would have to start piling up assets — young talent, draft picks — to acquire. The possible might be a fit while retaining pieces. And the reality are low-cost free agents.
The stars
The possible
The reality
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
