The Knicks have the opportunity to make huge changes this offseason. Which players should be at the top of their list of targets?
As soon as they traded Kristaps Porzingis last February, the Knicks’ plan for this offseason became apparent — use their cap space to pursue two max free agents. New York hasn’t had great luck luring the best of the best in free agency the past few years but this season summer they have the benefit of a deep class of free agents that gives them a Plan B or C if their first target doesn’t sign. They also have the young assets to chase a big trade or simply stand pat and keep building for the future if things don’t go the way they want.
Given the context, who should the Knicks be pursuing most aggressively this summer?
5. Jimmy Butler
Of all the top-tier free agents, Jimmy Butler may be the least likely to switch teams, given that he would be joining a fourth team in just over two years and seemed to develop some workable chemistry with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons during Philadelphia’s playoff run. As a primary scorer and creator, Butler is less appealing than some of the other options here, but given his defense and apparent (resigned?) comfort playing a complementary role with Philadelphia he might be an ideal second-banana to the other options here. He’s probably not the Knicks’ first choice, but he’d still be a huge get if this is how things work out.