Last NBA season, the long-suffering New York Knicks took a significant step toward respectability by finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 47-35 record and winning their first playoff series in 10 years.

It was like a breath of fresh air for the Tri-state area, but there is still lots of work to be done for the once-proud franchise that hasn’t won the NBA championship since 1973 and hasn’t reached the NBA Finals since 1999.

Despite the emergence of guard Jalen Brunson, the Knicks still lack a true superstar, and some would argue they haven’t had a true franchise player since Patrick Ewing in the 1990s. Luckily for New York, several stars could hit the market in the next few years, and it could end up having a shot at landing these five.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most obvious one, not to mention the most ideal superstar target for the superstar-starved Knicks.

He recently told the New York Times that he will not sign a contract extension to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks unless he feels they’re on track to remaining championship contenders in the years to come. He can opt out of his current contract in 2025, and the deal will end in 2026.

Already, some, including NBA insider Marc Stein, have speculated that the Knicks could indeed be a destination for the Greek Freak if he does decide to leave Wisconsin. However, it’s become less likely considering the recent trade pairing him with Damian Lillard.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo & New York Knicks Updates

Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t just arguably the best basketball player in the world, but he is also an exciting one who would bring a ton of energy back to Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. At age 28, he is at the height of his powers, and he should have several great years left in him, which means with the right cast around him, perhaps he could deliver a Larry O’Brien Trophy to Manhattan.

Donovan Mitchell

Last summer, Donovan Mitchell asked the Utah Jazz to trade him after they dealt fellow All-Star Rudy Gobert. Many expected he would be sent to the Knicks, as they were hot in pursuit of him.

Mitchell becoming a Knick made lots of sense, especially since he is originally from suburban Westchester County. But in the end, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team he transformed into a legitimate playoff squad. Ironically, the Cavs lost to the Knicks in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

The 6-foot-1 All-Star guard took his game to new heights during the 2022-23 campaign by averaging 28.3 points a game while shooting 48.4 percent from the field. Both his scoring average and shooting percentage were new career highs.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell & New York Knicks Updates

Donovan Mitchell is a big game player who has a history of going on scoring rampages during the playoffs, something that would make him a good fit for the Knicks and a fan base that always demands excellence under pressure. There is already speculation he could come home and play for New York after it was reported this week that he isn’t expected to sign an extension with Cleveland.

Like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell is currently playing on a contract that will expire in 2026 and has an opt-out clause for the summer of 2025.

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is yet another star whose contract will expire in 2026 and can opt out of it a year prior to that. He currently seems content playing for the Boston Celtics, but one can never be too sure, especially given their recent playoff failures.

They overcame a 3-0 series deficit in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals to force a Game 7 at home versus the Miami Heat. But they proceeded to fall flat on their faces, scoring just 84 points and losing by 19 points as Jayson Tatum scored just 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jayson Tatum & New York Knicks Updates

In 2022, Boston reached the NBA Finals and held a 2-1 lead over the Golden State Warriors. But they lost the next three games, and Jayson Tatum was a big culprit due to his poor shooting throughout the series.

Still, Jayson Tatum is one of the five or 10 best players in the game, and he is coming off a regular season in which he put up 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game, all of which were career bests. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before the 25-year-old figures out how to play well under the pressure of the late rounds of the playoffs, and perhaps he will do so as a Knick.

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson has been riddled with injuries so far in his career, and some feel the New Orleans Pelicans should trade him. If his value has dropped off and there isn’t too much interest from other teams, maybe the Knicks should kick the tires on him.

He has played in just 114 of a possible 308 games in his four pro seasons. But it is always possible he shakes off the injury bug and consistently becomes available for at least 60-65 games a year, especially if he drops some weight and steps up his strength and conditioning regimen.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson & New York Knicks Updates

When Zion Williamson has been healthy, he has been an immovable object in the paint. He boasts career averages of 25.8 points and 7.0 rebounds a game while shooting 60.5 percent from the field, and his aggressive play and engaging personality could make him a good fit in New York.

Remember that the Knicks missed out on the opportunity to draft Zion Williamson in 2019 when they drew the No. 3 pick in the draft lottery. They had the worst record in the NBA during the 2018-19 season at 17-65.

Joel Embiid

James Harden is at odds with Philadelphia 76ers management after they didn’t trade him this summer, and it has led to speculation that Joel Embiid, the reigning regular season MVP, may want out. If he does, could the Knicks be interested?

If they could land him for a package centered around Julius Randle, a core of him, Brunson and RJ Barrett could make the race for the Eastern Conference very interesting.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid & New York Knicks Updates

The concern with Joel Embiid is his injury history. He has never appeared in 70 games in a single season and has a history of knee ailments. However, he has led the NBA in scoring the past two seasons and put up career-highs in scoring (33.1 points a game) and shooting accuracy (54.8 percent) last year.

At age 29, Joel Embiid is at the top of his game, and if he stays healthy enough, he could have five more outstanding years left.

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