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The New York Knicks opted to sit out this offseason, relying on continuity to build on their rare second-round appearance in the playoffs.
But that doesn’t mean they’re happy with it. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, the Knicks have their sights set on a potential trade that would propel them to serious contender status in the Eastern Conference.
“The Knicks are monitoring three targets in particular, a source said: Karl-Anthony Towns of Minnesota, Joel Embiid of Philadelphia and Donovan Mitchell of Cleveland,” Bondy reported. “Of these three, the most feasible mid-season trade would be for Towns. »
Leon Rose, the president of the Knicks, once represented these three NBA stars.
However, the 27-year-old Towns looked reinvigorated after his participation in the FIBA World Cup with the Dominican Republic.
Towns averaged 17 points with a 48% shooting percentage as the Minnesota Timberwolves won their first two preseason games against the Dallas Mavericks. But it’s still too early to tell and things are changing quickly in the NBA.
The Towns family holds the Knicks president in high regard, so much so that Karl’s father even attended the first Knicks game since the former agent was hired to right the ship of the once-failing franchise.
Now, the Knicks have found stability under Rose’s steady leadership.
All they need is a true star to propel them to title contender status.
Could it be Towns, Embiid or Mitchell, all of whom have strong ties to Rose?
Donovan Mitchell has not yet signed an extension with the Cavs
Mitchell is eligible for an extension with the Cavaliers before the season begins on October 24. But that’s not in his plans, leading to hope he’ll eventually end up in New York, where he wanted to be when the Utah Jazz broke up their playoff core last year.
“I still have the option to sign an extension next summer,” Mitchell said during the team’s annual media day via Cleveland.com. “My main priority is on that. I’m just trying to go out there and try to be the best team I can be and bring a championship to the city, and go from there. We added new items. We obviously had a season that went pretty well until it went really badly. So, for us, that’s where our whole interest lies. This is where my interest lies. »
This season, the performances of the Cavaliers and Knicks could influence Mitchell’s decision next summer.
Joel Embiid doesn’t play in Sixers’ preseason loss
Embiid, who should be at the top of the Knicks’ wish list, did not play for unknown reasons (probably to rest) in the Philadelphia 76ers’ first preseason game, which ended in a loss 114-106 against the Celtics, a rival conference team, in Boston on Sunday.
The reigning MVP is the biggest domino the Knicks and the rest of the NBA expect to fall after James Harden’s trade request put a damper on the 76ers’ title hopes.
Embied, 29, put pressure on the 76ers this summer after telling Maverick Carter he wanted to win a championship. Whether that happens in Philadelphia or elsewhere remains the big question.
“I just want to win a championship, whatever it takes,” the two-time NBA MVP told Carter. “I don’t know where it’s going to happen – whether it’s in Philly or wherever – I just want to have a chance to make it happen. I want to see what it feels like to win the first one, then we think about the next one. It is not easy. You need more than one, two, three guys. You have to have good people around you. Every day I work hard to be at this level so I can produce and make it happen. Every day I work to achieve this goal. »
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2023-10-09 19:13:56
#Translate #title #English #article #French #adding #period #endKnicks #Monitoring #NBA #Stars #Report
