The New York Knicks appear to be playoff-bound this year. They hold an 32-17 record and are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, and they recently pulled off an impact trade by sending RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors for two-way stud O.G. Anunoby.
While the Knicks have a decent amount of talent, what they don’t have is a true superstar who can carry them and give them a real shot at the NBA championship. This is no knock on Julius Randle or Jalen Brunson, both of whom are All-Star caliber players but simply don’t have that next-level natural ability.
By no means are they necessarily done on the trade market. Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas noted their perpetually high payroll and said they need a real star, while mentioning Anthony Edwards and Jalen Green as two examples as the type of true star or superstar they need.
Arenas is somewhat of a loose cannon, and his characterization of Green, who is averaging 17.4 points a game but shooting just 40.1 percent from the field, as a star is laughable. However, he does have a very good point.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jalen Green, Anthony Edwards, New York Knicks Updates
New York hasn’t been a championship contender in over 20 years, and the last time it was in that stratosphere, it had Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, a man who regularly averaged well over 20 points and 10 rebounds a contest. Its fans are beyond restless for another man of his caliber.
Randle is putting up 24.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists a game this season, but he isn’t quite the team-elevating player that a superstar is supposed to be. At $28.2 million this year, his contract is outsized for a player at his level, which seems to make him a prime trade candidate should the Knicks look to make a bold move.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jalen Green, Anthony Edwards, New York Knicks Updates
The problem for them, however, is that there doesn’t seem to be a legitimate franchise player available on the trade market, at least not right now.
