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The Knicks have been one of the best stories of the 2020-21 NBA season. With new coach Tom Thibodeau and All-Star forward Julius Randle leading the way, they are on track to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.
But New York doesn’t want to just be a one-hit wonder. The Knicks will be looking for an upgrade at point guard this offseason, and it seems they already have a few options in mind.
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From SNY’s Ian Begley:
[The Knicks are] keeping an eye on Damian Lillard and any other star who may seek a trade if things go sideways with their current franchises. They also have guards like Dennis Schroder, Lonzo Ball and — per SNY sources — Kyle Lowry — on the radar for the offseason.
New York has enough cap space and future NBA Draft picks to start a conversation with Portland about Lillard’s status, but the franchise icon has never indicated that he wants to be traded. The Trail Blazers would likely move another starter such as CJ McCollum or Jusuf Nurkic before they ship out Lillard.
Barring a change in Lillard’s situation, the Knicks are going to be surveying the free-agency landscape this summer. Lowry, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, is the best player among the targets Begley mentioned.
At 35 years old, Lowry may not fit perfectly on the timelines of Randle (26) or RJ Barrett (20), but he is still effective on both ends of the floor. Lowry is averaging 17.2 points, 7.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while providing the usual intangibles and leadership that the Raptors have come to expect. He also has experience playing alongside ball-dominant players, so he wouldn’t take a ton of possessions away from New York’s young core.
There would be other teams in the mix for Lowry’s services, of course. The 76ers, Heat and Lakers have all expressed interest in Lowry, and a return to the Raptors can’t be ruled out. But the Knicks could offer a big contract without having to jump through financial hoops, and they would be coming off a successful season.
At the very least, the Knicks should be considered a real threat in free agency, which is a notable change from past offseasons.
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