Knicks' Hypothetical Blockbuster Trades to Shake Up NBA Offseason

The New York Knicks made a ton of progress throughout the 2022-23 NBA campaign. That won't necessarily stop them from making significant changes this offseason, though.

The Knicks are sitting atop a pile of picks and prospects that could grease the gears for a blockbuster trade. Their flaws were also on full display in the postseason and might be too severe to be corrected internally.

If the Knicks are in the market for a landscape-shifting type of trade this offseason, the following three deals loom as intriguing options.

Adding a Former No. 1 Pick

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) shoots with New York Knicks forward Marcus Morris Sr. (13) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) looking on during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New York, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. The Suns defeated the Knicks 121-98. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The Trade: Mitchell Robinson, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes and Evan Fournier to the Phoenix Suns for Deandre Ayton and Landry Shamet

Despite the Knicks' fourth-place finish in offensive efficiency during the regular season, per NBA.com, they might need some extra oomph. They didn't have a great counterpunch once leading scorer Julius Randle went cold in the playoffs.

That's why New York could be monitoring Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 pick from the 2018 NBA draft. With his numbers (and involvement) seemingly plateauing and the Suns falling well short of their championship goals, the conditions could be perfect for a trade.

Phoenix is expected to "aggressively explore" his trade market, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon, who added that Ayton "would be excited about a fresh start" elsewhere.

Center isn't a glaring need for the Knicks, but they can only squeeze so much out of a rim-runner like Mitchell Robinson. Ayton has a deeper bag on offense, and his soft mid-range touch would open wider attack lanes for Randle, Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. Ayton is also a solid interior defender and an active rebounder. This swap could even help the Knicks' shooting woes, as Landry Shamet might soak up minutes Evan Fournier couldn't find.

As for Phoenix, the Suns are too top-heavy, so turning Ayton and Shamet into four players (three if they view Fournier only as salary filler) could give them the depth they need. Robinson's low-maintenance game could be a more natural fit in Phoenix, as the Suns already get ample creation out of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin could fill some holes at the forward spots, and Fournier could crack the rotation if Phoenix wants his spot-up stroke.

The Ultimate Challenge Trade

David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 31: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talks with Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks during the game on March 31, 2021 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Trade: Julius Randle and Jericho Sims to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns

Challenge trades are among the most fascinating swaps in the league. They are essentially one-for-one deals in which each team thinks it can get more out of a player than his current club has.

Given Randle's disappearing act in the playoffs and Karl-Anthony Towns' awkward fit with Rudy Gobert, the Knicks and Timberwolves might be open to a star-for-star swap. (Jericho Sims would mainly make the money work here, though he could be a depth piece if Minnesota loses Naz Reid to free agency.)

Towns and the Knicks could have "mutual" interest," a league source told Heavy.com's Sean Deveney. Towns' shooting stroke would help open things up for this offense, which ranked 19th in three-point percentage (35.4) during the regular season. His passing and post-up play would also give the Knicks more layers.

Meanwhile, Randle could be a more natural frontcourt partner with Gobert. Randle is better physically equipped to defend power forwards, and his face-up game could be easier to get into than Towns' post-ups when Gobert is lurking by the basket.

Addressing Offensive Limitations with Zach LaVine

Adam Hunger/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 23: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls in action against the New York Knicks during the second half at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

The Trade: RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein to the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine

As potent as New York's offense wound up being, it wasn't particularly efficient. In addition to their issues from three-point range, the Knicks were 20th in field-goal percentage (47.0) and 22nd from the charity stripe (76.1 percent).

That's why New York could consider forking over three assets for Zach LaVine, who isn't cheap and has some knee problems in his past. Even with those warts, though, his offense is potent enough to potentially make him worth the wager.

This probably wasn't his best season—his player efficiency rating was only his fourth-best, per Basketball Reference—and he still finished it with per-game averages of 24.8 points and 4.2 assists. All three layers of his 48.5/37.5/84.8 shooting slash bettered New York's team marks. He is an elite scorer and would immediately form a three-headed, point-producing monster next to Brunson and Randle.

If Chicago pivots into a rebuild—a distinct possibility with Nikola Vučević hitting free agency and DeMar DeRozan getting there next summer—it should want out of LaVine's contract. Shedding that while adding high-ceiling prospects like RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin (plus a rock-solid 25-year-old center in Isaiah Hartenstein) would be a great way to start scripting the franchise's next chapter.