Free Agency

Path to a championship: Knicks free agent targets for 2023

Knicks free agent targets in all star game

The New York Knicks failed to make a deal for Donovan Mitchell. For some Knicks fans, all seems lost. No path forward to a championship on the horizon. We are here to tell you there is still hope. We are examining the most realistic Knicks free agent targets for the upcoming 22-23 season.

Let’s leave the mayhem behind us and look at the road ahead. Who are the notable Knicks free agent targets and which players are realistic suitors. There are some big names on the market, as always, but not all make sense for this team.

Available NBA Free Agents 2023

Prior to August 18, 2022, LeBron James was the premier free agent in 2023. You know what this would have meant, it’s time to get the Sopranos on the phone to see if the Knicks can bring LeBron to the Big Apple.

In all seriousness, this was obviously an unrealistic expectation. LeBron was never coming to New York. That ship sailed back in 2010 when he ultimately signed with the Miami Heat.

Most notable NBA free agents in this class

Reviewing the statuses of the current 2023 NBA contracts, there are some notable names on the list.

Kyrie Irving

James Harden
Khris Middleton
Kristaps Porzingis

Nikola Vucevic
Myles Turner
Kyle Kuzma

Dillon Brooks

All of these players have are either unrestricted free agents or have player options that would allow them to become NBA free agents 2023.

This is a quality list of candidates for the Knicks to pursue. For the Knicks, it is important to consider their roster needs, timeline of their rebuild, overall fit and the expected value from any player they sign.

The Knicks have done a tremendous job in recent times building a strong culture. A culture that was once mocked, has become a home for young prospects to develop and shine. We want the team to bring in talent, but not at the expense of what this organization has been building.

With these considerations in mind, who are realistic NBA free agents the Knicks should target in 2023 free agency? These are our best target Knicks NBA free agents 2023.

Realistic trade targets for the Knicks to pursue

In addition to the team considerations of culture, timeline and needs, we considered the external factors that may play a part in the decision making process. With that said, these are the Knicks free agent targets that we feel are best suited to this roster.

1. Myles Turner

Myles Turner is set to become one of the top 2023 NBA free agents. He’s a guy that has shown signs of being an all-star caliber player, yet has failed to make the leap. For his career, he has averaged 12.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 ast and fg% of 48.9%.

Turner had his best season his second year. Since then, he has regressed slightly in some areas, but at the same time has become one of the elite shot blockers in the game. He has also been dealing with injuries that has impacted his availability. I believe with a change of scenery and in the right system he could make a considerable jump. Something along the lines of 18ppg and 10rebs per game, maintaining his defensive output.

The elephant in the room with this signing is the impact he would have on either Mitchell Robinson or Obi Toppin. Not to mention Julius Randle. The thought here is that this log jam is cleared during the 2022-23 season. Trade offs will need to be made at some point for this roster to take the next step. The Knicks cannot continue to have talented players fighting for the same minutes. They will need to see what they have in Toppin and make a decision with the future of Randle.

Myles Turner gives the Knicks a young prospect that can return significant upside for this team. A risk worth taking if they are willing to make the roster changes necessary for him to flourish and have time on the floor.

2. Andrew Wiggins

You can never have too many wing players in this league. That is why Andrew Wiggins in one of the top Knicks free agent targets on our list. Highly skilled guys that can impact the game at both ends are always valuable. When it comes to the Knicks, there is a lack of natural defensive talent at the wing position, with RJ Barrett tasked with guarding the top offensive player on most nights. Adding a defensive wing would take the load off of RJ and allow him to expend more energy on the offensive side of the ball.

Wiggins proved in the NBA Finals that he is a dynamic wing player with more than capable defensive abilities. Given the Golden State Warriors total team cap is over $200mil, roughly $50mil over the luxury tax threshold, they will need to make some difficult decisions. He might be one to miss out on the bag in San Francisco. It’s hard to see the Warriors not paying Draymond Green, he has given far too much to that franchise for them to allow him to leave on a contract dispute. Although the NBA is a business.

Wiggins presents a significant upgrade at the Small Forward / Power Forward position alongside RJ Barrett. Salary cap moves would need to happen in order to facilitate a Wiggins signing, but it is possible.

3. Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant, when firing, has a major impact on his team winning. Now in Portland, Grant is flexible combo forward with a strong defensive skillset.

In addition to being a solid defender, Grant is capable at the offensive end of the floor. In his last two seasons, he has averaged 20.8 ppg, 4.4 rebs, 2.6 ast and 1 blk. These numbers were a significant improvement from his previous seasons. His FG% leaves a lot to be desired at ~43%, but this is due to an increase in 3 point volume.

Whilst a great option for the Knicks, he is an injury prone player that will push for bigger dollars. If the Knicks can sign him for the right price, he would be a value for this team. Good team friendly contracts has been a statement of Leon Rose‘s time in New York.

Jerami Grant could be a good fit in a Knicks roster that now has a depth of talent. Grant will not be a game changer, but his flexibility to play multiple positions will be a major benefit for this team.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 2023 NBA free agent class offers an exciting opportunity for the New York Knicks to bolster their roster and make a push for the playoffs. Myles Turner, Jerami Grant, and Andrew Wiggins are all talented players who could make an immediate impact on the team.

Turner’s defensive prowess and ability to stretch the floor would be a valuable addition to the Knicks’ frontcourt, while Grant’s versatility and scoring ability would provide a much-needed boost to their offense. And Wiggins, with his athleticism and championship experience, could be a key piece in the team’s long-term plans.

As the Knicks continue to rebuild and look to establish themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference, targeting these top 2023 NBA free agents could prove to be a wise move. Only time will tell which players ultimately end up donning the blue and orange, but Knicks fans should be excited for what the future holds.