The Knicks are falling apart and these players will suffer the consequences this offseason

The New York Knicks haven't had the season that was expected of them. That's not to say that they've been an outright disappointment. Regardless, they were viewed as the favorites to win a depleted Eastern Conference, and they are still stuck as a No. 3 seed.

More concerningly, they've been one of the most inconsistent teams. Currently, they are on a three-game losing streak, which comes after a seven-game winning streak (against below .500 teams). Needless to say, this is a less-than-promising sign as the playoffs approach. And frankly, I can't believe in a team that is this erratic to win at the highest level. 

Sure, their talent gives them a chance, but I wouldn't bet on them making the NBA Finals. Heading into the season, it was NBA Finals or bust for the Knicks. 

Last year, they showed how lofty their internal expectations were by firing Tom Thibodeau after making their first conference finals appearance in 25 years. To this end, if the Knicks don't make a finals run, it's fair to expect some massive changes this summer.

Why the Knicks have been so inconsistent this season

Before diving into what changes could occur for the Knicks, I think it's important to discuss why they've been so up-and-down this season.

The hiring of Mike Brown was supposed to give the Knicks a new offensive identity. In some ways, he's done so; the 3-point volume and bench production have improved. 

However, the offense remains predictable and overly dependent on Jalen Brunson. Despite hopes that Brown's offense would be more egalitarian, Brunson's usage rate and field goal attempts have increased. In turn, this has led to less involvement from the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

Throughout the season, KAT has questioned his role in the offense. As the playoffs inch closer, this uncertainty is an alarming sign.

A key part of this is that Brown is attempting to use Towns in a Domantas Sabonis-like role, which doesn't maximize his skill set. 

While a large part of this blame should be shouldered by Brown, it's important to acknowledge that Towns, OG and Bridges are all inherently volatile players. Thus, on any given night, this could force the Knicks to operate without a dependable second option.

On top of all this, having a poor rim protector and point of attack defender is disastrous in a playoff setting. 

Karl-Anthony Towns is an obvious trade candidate

Now that we've established the Knicks' problems, let's focus on what these changes could look like. Firstly, I want to acknowledge that despite Brown's topsy-turvy season, I would be surprised if the Knicks made another coaching change.

To me, the Knicks' changes all start with Towns. Frankly, unless the Knicks make the NBA Finals, I expect KAT to be playing elsewhere next season. It was even reported that the Knicks were shopping him at the deadline.

His poor defense, offensive inconsistency, open concerns about his role, and hefty contract ($55 million per year) give the Knicks plenty of reasons to move off of him. New York's interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo has been well-documented, and such a move would require Towns to be included. The Knicks' lack of draft capital makes trading for Giannis or another high-end star challenging, though.

Beyond Giannis, the Knicks could look to find another co-star with flaws in a "swapping problems" type of deal. This is what we saw with the famous Towns-Julius Randle trade. 

Deals like this are rare, though, and ultimately, I think the Knicks might have to settle for a deal centered around depth and high-end complementary players.

Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are also trade candidates

Bridges and Josh Hart are the two other primary trade candidates. I'm not as sure that they'll be moved. Nevertheless, it's easy to see a world where one or both of them find new homes. 

If the Knicks trade for Giannis, it's widely believed that Bridges landing with a third team would help supplement the Bucks' draft capital. 

Aside from Giannis, Bridges' four-year $150 million contract is starting to look incredibly steep. Thus, the Knicks might trade Bridges to open up financial flexibility. 

Hart is a fantastic role player, but his lack of shooting limits the lineup possibilities with him and could ultimately make him expendable. It's unclear what value he'd hold on the open market, but getting some shooting back would be a priority. 

All in all, if the Knicks' current trajectory continues, changes are bound to be made, and these three players are clear candidates to be moved.  

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