New Orleans Pelicans: 3 team trade with OKC and the New York Knicks for Chris Paul

New Orleans Pelicans: 3-team trade with Knicks and Thunder for Chris Paul

Why the Knicks would do it

The New York Knicks haven’t been relevant since the Carmelo Anthony days and barely then. They are desperate to make the playoffs and to make some type of splash that will drum up interest in the hapless franchise.

The Brooklyn Nets are about to unleash a team with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving that is coached by Steve Nash, so the Knicks would like to add some star power before they become New York’s second banana.

Chris Paul is old for sure, but he still has that star power and he still has enough skill to get the Knicks to the playoffs, especially if they can add another veteran.

Rumor has it that veteran could be the aforementioned Carmelo Anthony, which wouldn’t make the Knicks a contender, but at least they’d be relevant.

A core of Paul, Melo, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Dennis Smith Jr., Taj Gibson and whatever other free agents they could grab, might be a playoff team in the East, at least if they all stayed healthy.

This would also potentially clear more cap space for the Knicks to pursue another big-name free agent in 2021, someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo (HA!), or to make another trade for someone like Victor Oladipo.

The Knicks would essentially be giving up an unproven player, a big contract in Randle and a first round draft pick for the chance at making the playoffs, it’s that simple. Should they do it? Of course not. Will they do it? It would be very Knick-like to make this move, so I wouldn’t rule it out.

Would the Pelicans bite?