One NBA writer has named Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson and Paul George as the New York Knicks’ top trade targets. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes the Knicks should try to trade for Embiid, Williamson or George.
“Embiid, the reigning MVP, would be ideal,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “He is an impact presence at both ends and right in the heart of his prime. Now, that effectively guarantees he’d cost a fortune, and in most cases would make him totally off-limits, but a tumultuous stretch in Philly could have him thinking about a future elsewhere and maybe forcing the Sixers’ hand.
“If the Knicks’ Embiid dreams are dashed, they shouldn’t spend time in the trade market eyeing anything other than a star. Williamson’s offensive prowess and George’s two-way play could also be enough to get this team on the title track.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson, Paul George, New York Knicks Updates
Embiid averaged 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for the Philadelphia 76ers. He won the NBA MVP Award over Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Since Knicks president Leon Rose used to be Embiid’s agent, some people around the NBA believe New York would have an advantage in Embiid trade talks if the center requested a trade.
There have been several questions about Williamson’s diet and commitment to basketball since he’s only played 114 out of a possible 308 regular-season games since being drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. Williamson played in 24 games in his rookie year and 61 games in his sophomore year. The lefty then missed his entire third year and appeared in just 29 games last season. The two-time All-Star has career NBA averages of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists with the Pelicans.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson, Paul George, New York Knicks Updates
Finally, George averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Los Angeles Clippers last season. The 33-year-old signed a lucrative four-year, $176 million maximum extension with the Clippers in December 2020. George will make $45.6 million next season and has a player option worth $48.8 million for the 2024-25 season.
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