Knicks Rumors: Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant On Radar, NY Shouldn't Trade Zion Williamson To Form Duo

Then 2019 NBA offseason might be the most important few months in the history of the New York Knicks. After five straight years of 50-plus losses culminates with the team finishing at the very bottom of the standings, New York will have a chance to dramatically alter the fate of the franchise this summer.

The Knicks will have more salary cap space than anyone, giving them the opportunity to sign two max free agents. Kevin Durant is heavily rumored to be eyeing the Big Apple, and he could bring along another star player to help resurrect that team that’s posted the league’s worst record since 2001.

Kyrie Irving is probably the Knicks’ most likely option in free agency after Durant.

NBA free agency starts on July 1, but the most important date for the Knicks is May 14. That’s when the 2019 draft order will be determined. New York is tied for the best odds in the lottery, giving them as good of a chance as any team to win the No.1 overall pick and select the most sought-after prospect since Anthony Davis.

Zion Williamson is a lock to go at the top of the draft. The Duke freshman is having one of the best college basketball seasons in history, averaging 21.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 69.6 percent from the field.

The No.1 pick would be one of the most valuable trade chips in the league. New York could turn it into an immediate superstar if they hope to acquire veterans and compete right away. Winning the Zion Williamson Sweepstakes would automatically put the Knicks at the top of the list in the Anthony Davis Sweepstakes.

Davis is almost certain to be traded this summer, and we know the Knicks covet him. The big man even put New York on his list of four preferred destinations when he made his trade request.

The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly rejected an offer from New York centered on Kristaps Porzingis before the trade deadline. You can bet the Pelicans would accept any offer that includes Williamson.

Knicks’ fans have been dreaming of a “Big 3” of Davis, Durant and Irving. Even if New York can “only” add Davis and Durant, they’d immediately become be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

If the Knicks win the lottery, they will consider trading Williamson and other players on their roster for Davis. Doing so might cement New York as Durant’s preferred destination. It would also give the Knicks a guaranteed superstar instead of taking a risk on an unproven player.

But Williamson isn’t like any highly touted college basketball player, and he’s not your typical No.1 pick. He’s a transcendent athlete that is as close to a can’t-miss prospect as you’ll find.

Williamson’s efficiency on the offensive end is historic. His nearly 22 points per game have come on an average of just 12.3 field-goal attempts. He’s shooting an incredible 76.3 percent on two-pointers, despite having little threat of an outside shot.

In his first game back from a knee sprain, Williamson scored 29 points on 13-13 shooting against Syracuse in the ACC Tournament. He’s virtually unstoppable around the rim, and his 6’7, 275-pound frame will get plenty of easy buckets at the next level.

Maybe Williamson’s inability to make three-pointers consistently will hamper his chances to become a superstar in today’s NBA. He has made 30.6 percent of his 49 three-point attempts. Williamson’s jumper isn’t broken, and at just 18 years old, it stands to reason it will get much better.

Because Williamson’s game is so well-rounded, he doesn’t need to be a great shooter in order to be effective. The freshman averages 2.3 steals and 2.2 blocks in 28.4 minutes per game. He might be able to guard at least four positions effectively in the NBA, where being able to switch on defense is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity.

Draymond Green has been a top-25 player in the league without being an effective shooter because he’s a defensive monster that can facilitate an offense. Giannis Antetokounmpo is only now starting to make threes, and he might be the best player in the NBA.

In the worst-case scenario—assuming his career isn’t derailed by injuries—Williamson will make a few NBA All-Star teams. His ceiling might be higher than Davis’.

Davis is seven years older than Williamson. He’ll make close to $20 million more than Williamson in the 2019-2020 season, and the difference will be much greater the following season when Davis signs a new max contract.

A different kind of risk comes with trading for Davis instead of drafting and keeping Williamson. Adding Davis and a star free agent would max out the Knicks’ salary cap and limit the moves they could make going forward. New York would have their core set for the next few years, and they’d have to hope it is good enough to bring them a title.

The salary cap rules wouldn’t allow a straight up Davis-for-Williamson swap. The Knicks would have to give up other promising players, possibly in a package that includes rookie Kevin Knox or Mitchell Robinson.

Williamson’s salary in his first few seasons would give the Knicks more flexibility to make moves over the next couple of seasons. It would also stretch out their competitive window, considering Williamson has a chance to be a star for the next 15 years.

Trading the No.1 pick for Davis only makes sense if the Knicks can sign Durant, hoping to become a legitimate contender for the 2020 NBA Finals. Even in that case, the Knicks might be best-served to draft a player that could be the face of the league for more than a decade.

Take Williamson and give yourself a player that can be Durant’s co-star, as well as his successor.