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NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 offseason targets for the New York Knicks

By Ian Levy

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 06: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors walks to the court prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 06: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors walks to the court prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 7: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans greets players after the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 7: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans greets players after the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Anthony Davis

Davis is not a free agent but has made clear he has no interest in playing for the Pelicans and, along with the Celtics and Lakers, the Knicks can probably offer the most appealing trade packages. The Knicks could send the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft along with the Pelicans preferred combination of several talented young players — Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina and/or Dennis Smith Jr. Whether that’s more appealing than what the Lakers or Celtics puts on the table depends a lot on how New Orleans envisions their immediate future.

If the Knicks can convince New Orleans to bite they’d likely do it around the draft which means they’d have Davis on the roster when they’re making free agent pitches. It would take some serious financial wrangling with slim margins of error, but it’s feasible that the Knicks could acquire Davis and then land two other players on this list at essentially max slots. When healthy Davis is an elite two-player and one of the best bigs in the league. Putting him with one of these players would make the Knicks among the best teams in the East. Putting him next to two of them and this starts to look more like an All-Star team.

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