Despite failing to hit their main goals last summer, the New York Knicks shouldn’t easily give up on their dream of adding a legitimate superstar to their roster. The 2020 free agency may not be as star-studded as the previous offseason, but there are plenty of big names that are expected to hit the market this fall. One of the dream commercial targets for the Knicks in the 2020 off-season is All-Star center Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.
In a recent article, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report created a swap list for each lottery team if they win the lottery in the 2020 NBA Draft. For the Knicks, Swartz suggested that they should consider trading pick # 1 with the Sixers for acquire Embiid.
“New York Knicks President Leon Rose’s roster of famous former clients ranges from Allen Iverson to LeBron James to Chris Paul and also includes Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. If Philadelphia decides to split the pair of Embiid and Ben Simmons this off-season, don’t be surprised to see Rose make a call. Embiid would give the Knicks the star they craved, creating an exciting new pairing with RJ Barrett. Even if Robinson were to blossom with a bigger role in New York, he wouldn’t come close to matching Embiid’s offensive play”.
In the proposed trade scenario, the Knicks would send a package that includes Mitchell Robinson, Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington and their first choice of 2020 and 2021 to Sixers in exchange for Embiid. Giving up all those resources would certainly be worth the Knicks. Embiid is currently one of the best active big men in the league. With his ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc, it would have been an intriguing match alongside RJ Barrett, whom they selected as their number 3 pick last year.