The New York Knicks have been the epitome of failure for the past decade. Their dysfunctional ways have become the butt of jokes around the NBA community and despite being in one of the biggest markets in basketball, they have yet to acquire a superstar.
This summer, though, the Knicks will be working to change all of that. In an article by Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiari, he listed potential targets for the Knickerbockers this offseason which may include Toronto’s star-studded frontcourt.
As far as free-agent centers go, both Marc Gasol and Kelly Olynyk could provide what the Knicks are looking for. The 35-year-old Gasol is a one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and making 1.4 three-pointers per game this season and connecting on 40.2 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
New York could also explore the power forward market with Serge Ibaka and Frank Kaminsky standing out above the rest of the pack.
Like his Toronto Raptors teammate in Gasol, Ibaka has shot the ball spectacularly this season. He is averaging a career-high 16.0 points per game, and his three-point shooting percentage of 39.8 percent is a career-best mark as well.
New York’s current frontcourt includes Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Taj Gibson, and Bobby Portis — a mixture of young guys and veterans, but nobody with any real Championship experience.
Coming off their 2019 title victory, both Gasol and Ibaka have chemistry and a title to their name. They are versatile bigs who can protect the paint, make shots under the rim, and hit shots from beyond the arc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo2wI7YSOQA
Alongside guys like RJ Barrett, Dennis Smith Jr., and Kevin Knox, the pair could be a great fit.
Unfortunately for them, there is no indication that either has interest in leaving Toronto.
