Los Angeles Lakers: What is the likelihood of an Anthony Davis trade?
By Ethan Temkin
New York Knicks
The Knicks are by far one of the favorites to successfully trade for Davis. They have the assets, cap space and are in one of the biggest markets in the league, which AD seems to place an importance on. He has also expressed interest in re-signing with the Knicks should he be dealt there.
On top of the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, the Knicks have two future first-round picks from the Dallas Mavericks, and intriguing young talent in Dennis Smith Jr., Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson to help New Orleans jump-start a rebuild around Zion Williamson (should they select him). In addition, the Knicks also possess their own first-round picks should they need to sweeten the deal.
The most important factor of the Knicks making such a trade is whether or not they’re able to land top-tier free agents with their two-max slots worth of cap-space.
Should the Knicks successfully sign big name players such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or even Jimmy Butler or Kemba Walker, then they would be much more willing to go all-in on a Davis trade to complete their newly constructed super-team.
But if they strike out in free agency, then the urgency to mortgage their future for Davis would drastically reduce. However, given the fact that the Knicks have the cap space for two max-contracts, the chances for them completely striking out are very little.
As of right now, I have the Knicks as the slight favorites to land Davis for the above reasons.