The New York Knicks would be heading into the 2022 NBA offseason with the goal of finding a new starting point guard.
The Knicks may currently have Kemba Walker on their roster, but with his 2021-22 NBA season performance, he proved to be an odd fit with Coach Tom Thibodeau's system.
The season is not yet over, but the Knicks are already being linked to some quality floor generals who could become available on the trade market this summer.
Dream Trade Target – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
One of the dream trade targets for the Knicks is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. According to James Piercey of NBA Analysis Network, the Knicks could engage in a three-team blockbuster trade with the Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks to acquire SGA in the 2022 NBA offseason.
In the proposed trade scenario, the Knicks would get Gilgeous-Alexander, the Mavericks would receive Julius Randle, the Thunder would obtain Spencer Dinwiddie, Dwight Powell, two 2023 first-round picks, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and the rights to swap first-round selections in 2025 and 2026.
Knicks Get A New Starting PG
The proposed three-team trade would make a lot of sense for the Knicks, especially if they no longer consider Randle part of their long-term plans. Though it would cost them multiple future draft assets, the suggested deal would enable them to swap Randle for a young, All-Star-caliber point guard in Gilgeous-Alexander.
Aside from being a good playmaker, Gilgeous-Alexander would also give the Knicks a reliable scoring option, a decent perimeter defender, and a legitimate threat from the three-point range.
This season, the 23-year-old point guard averaged 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Mavs Pair Luka Doncic With All-Star Big Man
Meanwhile, trading all those assets for Randle would be a massive gamble for the Mavericks. However, if Randle can regain his All-Star form, Piercey believes that pairing him with Luka Doncic would strengthen their chances of dominating the Western Conference and winning the NBA championship title in the 2022-23 NBA season.
"It all depends on which version of Randle they’re getting. If he brings his woeful shooting from 2021-22 to Dallas, they’ll regret this move. On the other hand, if he can regain his 2020-21 form (or even split the difference), the Mavs could be a real threat to win the NBA championship in 2022-23."Thunder Obtain More Future Draft Picks
The Thunder may not have shown any indication that they are planning to trade Gilgeous-Alexander. Still, they would definitely be intrigued by the idea of adding more future draft assets to their collection.
The Thunder could use those picks to add more talented prospects to their roster or as future trade chips when they are contending for the NBA championship title. Dinwiddie and Powell may no longer fit their rebuilding plans, but they are both solid role players.
The Thunder could send Dinwiddie and Powell to aspiring contenders that want to boost their depth in exchange for a young player and/or a future draft pick.
]]>The Inquisitr
