3. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are desperate to add a star player to their roster. They tried their best this offseason to land Donovan Mitchell but came up just short in negotiations. That could ultimately be a blessing in disguise as Danny Ainge was looking to bleed them of all of their tradable assets.

Now, they are back to the drawing board regarding finding that next star player. They will certainly be mentioned as a potential landing spot for the next All-Star that is looking for a change of scenery as they have a ton of assets to build a trade package around.

If a trade cannot be found, they will do their best to lure a player in free agency. Building a winning culture and having some pieces in place is important to that and the New York Knicks have a chance to accomplish that given the young players on the roster.

If RJ Barrett continues ascending, he will be a draw in recruiting free agents. Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Cam Reddish are a few other young guys with high upside. Continuing their development will make New York that much more attractive a destination.

That offseason, many people expect the Knicks to try and close the deal with Mitchell. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle both have player options, leaving Barrett and Mitchell Robinson as the only players with guaranteed deals right now for the 2025-26 season. There is a path to clearing max contract slots, especially with the salary cap expected to go up in the coming years.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & New York Knicks Updates

Being the player that took on the challenge to try and get the New York Knicks over the hump would be a huge boost to Antetokounmpo’s legacy. If you can win in New York, you will live on forever as an icon. Not everyone is cut out to play in the Big Apple, but it presents a challenge that Antetokounmpo could find worthy of trying to conquer.