2. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are coming off a season where they got their first playoff series win since 2012-13. The Knicks had serious struggles in the mid to late 2010s until they brought in former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Since Thibodeau joined the Knicks as their head coach, he has led them to the playoffs in two out of his three seasons there thus far. The Knicks are off to a 7-5 start this season and have been linked to potential trades for superstars, including Zach LaVine, for nearly a year now.
The Knicks have a plethora of draft picks in the coming years that they could use in a Zach LaVine trade. In just this coming draft, the Knicks own their first-round draft selection, as well as three protected selections via Dallas, Washington, and Detroit. They also have three second-round selections this year and an additional two first-round picks in next year’s draft.
From a pure value perspective, the Knicks would likely have to give up one of Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, or Jalen Brunson in a LaVine deal. Barrett is the most likely of the bunch to be moved, as the other two are integral pieces to a Knicks team that’s trying to win now.
The Bulls would also likely receive Evan Fournier or Josh Hart to make the deal financially equitable. Immanuel Quickley could also potentially be a young piece the Bulls would want in a LaVine deal, as he is in the last year of his rookie deal in New York.