The New York Knicks are not “aggressively pursuing” a James Harden or Damian Lillard trade this NBA offseason, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
Harden opted into his 2023-24 player option and is working to get traded by the Philadelphia 76ers, while Lillard has requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. Harden wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and Lillard wants to play for the Miami Heat.
“James Harden and Damian Lillard are both available via trade. But as of late Saturday night, I don’t believe New York has been aggressively pursuing either player,” Begley wrote.
Since neither Harden nor Lillard requested a trade to the Knicks, it appears New York doesn’t want to risk trading assets for a player who doesn’t want to be in the Big Apple.
So far this summer, the Knicks have traded Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers and signed Donte DiVincenzo. Josh Hart also picked up his 2023-24 player option. New York, though, opted not to re-sign Derrick Rose, who signed with the Memphis Grizzlies.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Damian Lillard & New York Knicks Updates
The Knicks lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games. The core of the team is Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett and Hart.
New York has signaled to other teams that if the right star becomes available, the front office will be aggressive in pursuing him, per Fred Katz of The Athletic, but it doesn’t look like Harden or Lillard is that star for the Knickerbockers.
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The Knicks have loomed as the leading suitor for Sixers center Joel Embiid if he requests a trade, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Since New York president Leon Rose used to be Embiid’s agent, many people around the NBA believe the Knicks would have an advantage in the Embiid trade sweepstakes if the Kansas product hit the trade block.
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