Knicks Rumors: Kyrie Irving is the main target in 2019
Recent New York Knicks rumors involve potential plans for 2019, as the team is reportedly all in on Kyrie Irving.
With training camp right around the corner, New York Knicks rumors will begin popping up again. A lot of those Knicks rumors will involve trade chatter.
New York has a few veterans that could be on the move during training camp. There are two goals in mind when discussing the trade of veterans: Opening up minutes for younger players, and clearing cap space for what could be a monster free agent class in 2019.
The free agency class of 2019 is one that teams have been loading up for in recent seasons, attempting to clear their books. The likes of Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler and DeMarcus Cousins could all be available next summer.
As a result, teams are doing what they can to have enough money available to make a run at one of those players. The Knicks are one of those teams, hoping to have enough cap space to land a max contract player.
To get there, the Knicks need to make a few moves. Ridding themselves of Joakim Noah would be the quickest path to a max contract spot. Trading Courtney Lee would also help them get there.
If New York is able to do that, they already have their eyes set on one player: Kyrie Irving. According to A. Sherrod Blackley of NBC Sports, during an appearance on the Bulls Talk Podcast, the Knicks are going to go all-in to pursue Irving.
Here is an excerpt from the podcast, via Bleacher Report‘s Tim Daniels.
"“I’ve spoken with people within [the Knicks] organization. They have made it absolutely crystal clear to me that — if they had their pick of guys that are going to be in the free-agent market [next] summer — Kyrie would be their first, second, third and fourth choice,” Blakely said."
Intentions don’t get much clearer than that. Irving is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, worth $20.1 million. He has a player option for 2019-20, but all signs point to Irving declining that to enter free agency again in the hopes of landing another long-term, lucrative contract.
While we are a long way away from that still happening, fans will get excited about every update provided. In July, Ian Begley of ESPN New York, reported, via multiple executives, that the Knicks would be given consideration by Irving in free agency.
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Irving further fueled the fire when he was non-committal about his future with the Boston Celtics. Sopan Deb of the New York Times shared the exchange.
"“Well, I mean I know that question is going to come up a lot over the next year, just based upon where my deal is. And, you know, that time will arise, and when it does I think I’ll have a better, clear, concise answer for a lot of people that are going to ask. Yeah, I just have to take it as being present with the Boston Celtics. You know, and just going into this year with the mindset of trying to win a championship.”"
Based on the current construction of the roster, it makes sense that Kyrie Irving is the Knicks’ clear-cut top option should he hit free agency. Theys have a franchise building block in Kristaps Porzingis in the frontcourt. New York hopes that Kevin Knox can also be a part of the foundation, along with Frank Ntilikina, Mitchell Robinson and another potential lottery pick in 2019.
Point guard has long been an issue for New York. Trey Burke played exceptionally well last season, but does New York view him as their point guard of the future? Stephon Marbury was talented, fans loved Charlie Ward and Mark Jackson was great in his own right, but Irving would be the best point guard to don the orange and blue of the Knicks since Walt Frazier was in the backcourt with Earl Monroe.
On paper, Irving would be a good fit for the Knicks. He would make for an excellent partner for Ntilkina in the backcourt. Ntilikina would control things defensively, while Irving ran things offensively. Irving in the pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop with Porzingis, Knox or Robinson would be deadly.
There is no doubt he is talented and shines in the brightest moments. Remember his, essentially, game-winning shot to clinch the 2016 NBA Finals over Stephen Curry?
However, there are some concerns when it comes to Irving, namely his health. Irving has never played more than 75 games in a season in his career. He has played more than 70 games only three times in the past six seasons; his rookie season was the lockout-shortened season when he played 51 out of 66 games. Extrapolated over the length of a normal 82-game season, that would have equaled out to only 63-64 games played.
Given the health concerns of Porzingis, the Knicks would be putting all of their eggs into the baskets of two players that have not proven to be durable.
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It would be a risk for New York, but to get to the top of the NBA, some risks need to be taken. Infusing that kind of talent into a young, improving roster would take them near the top of the Eastern Conference.