The past seasons have been frustrating for the New York Knicks and they want to change the narrative starting next season. The organization is shooting high in the offseason and the priority is to land high-profile players and the names mentioned so far are Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul.
The two fit the chief credential that the Knicks are hunting. According to Steve Kyler, New York will not settle for anything less. The organization plans to kick off the campaign next season with at least a superstar name on the roster. And the Knicks are ready for a blockbuster deal.
"I continue to hear the Knicks are open to taking on a big contract like a Westbrook or a Chris Paul," Fadeaway World reported Kyler as saying.
The journalist added that dealing in the open market should not be a problem for the New York front office. The organization will do business prepared and with a first-round pick plus an interesting catalog of assets, the Knicks can certainly offer a deal on either Westbrook or Paul.
However, it is not yet known if any of the two players are open for offers in the offseason. Westbrook has a live contract with Houston that will not expire until 2023. There is no signal yet from the Rockets if the former MVP is marked for trading during the season break.
The same goes for CP3. He is tied up with the Thunder for two seasons more and it seemed unlikely that he is the man the Knicks are looking for. Paul is already 35 and while he is a certified superstar, it also means he will not come cheap.
If New York will get him, the damage will reach $85 million over the next two years although Paul's records easily impressed. He is an All-Star caliber and can certainly lead a squad. Paul's playmaking ability could prove the key to unlock New York's potentials in the season to come.
As for Westbrook, CBS Sports said the 31-year-old was once the best in the NBA but it might be a mistake for the Knicks to invest in the star. He is downright expensive that comes with downsides such as poor shooting and unimpressive ball-handling.
For the most part, Westbrook is the type of player that puts a premium on his physical power, which should warn the Knicks that the point guard will wear out. It's remote that that he will get even better with time. If the Knicks have to choose, the better option has to be Paul, whom the report described as an A1 court general.
And while directing his teammates, Paul can surely snipe from the distance with lethal accuracy, which is something that cannot be said about Westbrook.
