The New York Knicks owned the trade portion of the 2022 NBA Draft. They made three separate deals, getting themselves out of the first round, then back in, and then back out. At the end of the day, they flipped the 11th pick, Kemba Walker, and some second-round selections into three future first-round picks and a ton of cap space. Given the fact that this team made the playoffs in the 2020-21 season and then fell out again, the Knicks clearly feel like they are close to being a playoff team on a consistent basis. To get there, they need to address some needs. All of them are very important, but there is one that is very obvious. Here are the biggest needs Knicks still must address in free agency after the 2022 NBA Draft.
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Knicks Need In Free Agency After 2022 NBA Draft
A star
To the credit of the Knicks front office, a ton of their roster is already set for the future. They have Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and some solid rotational pieces like Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose. The glaring issue with these guys is that – they are not stars. Unfortunately for the NBA today, without a star, even the playoffs are sometimes unreachable, let alone a title. The fact that Randle led this Knicks team to the playoffs in 2020-21 is a matter of circumstance more than anything else, without taking credit away from the way the Knicks played that season. It is more indicative that the same roster, virtually, went 37-45 this season. To improve on this, they really need a star.
However, they do not need any star, as they are still playing in one of the biggest markets in the NBA. The Knicks have been looking for their marquee player for decades, or so it seems. The last player that really gave them a fighting chance for the title was Patrick Ewing in the 1990s, but he was routinely stopped by Michael Jordan and the Bulls. In a case the marquee players are just not available, the Knicks could also do with a star that is maybe not as marketable, but will elevate the New York franchise in terms of pure basketball. With that in mind, let's look at the options the Knicks could have available in the summer.
The most obvious option is Kyrie Irving. It is indicative that Irving will be leaving the Brooklyn Nets. He has a player option, and while Kevin Durant agreed to an extension, Irving and the Nets are unable to find a common interest in extending his deal. It seems like Irving will be leaving and he might be moving just a couple of miles to MSG. The risk is obvious – Irving has had some issues off the court and is very unreliable. However, when he is available, Uncle Drew is definitely one of the best players in the world. Given the fact that the Knicks were apparently among the teams that Irving wants to be traded to, should it come to that, it seems like a match made in heaven. Still, the Knicks have other options as well.
For the other type of star, the Knicks could go for Bradley Beal. Beal has rejected his player option and will enter free agency to be salivated upon by every team with some cap space. In serious terms, the expectation is that Beal will remain in Washington, but the Wizards could lose him through free agency, as the call of the Knicks or any other franchise might be too strong. Given the fact that Randle just cannot be the first offensive option, Beal would be ideal for that role. The veteran guard had a slower last season, but if we look at the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Beal averaged over 30 points in both, shooting over 45% from the field and 35% from three. Beal would likely bring New York consistent playoff basketball, which is the goal of the Knicks right now.
The Knicks have been preparing themselves for a good summer for a long time, at least financially. Many of their moves were to clear up space and while they were unable to really use it in the past, this might be the summer. Other options they could go for are Kevin Durant if Irving leaves the Nets, or DeAndre Ayton, if the Suns do not match his offer sheet. The Knicks should be aiming to come out of this summer with a viable first option on their roster.
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