The New York Knicks did their best to land Donovan Mitchell this NBA offseason. For a long time, his eventual departure to New York felt inevitable. It wasn’t. Now, Mitchell is a Cavalier. It failed.

There are more All-Star guards out there than just Mitchell. By staying patient, perhaps the Knicks could take advantage of a future trade opportunity for an All-Star talent to pair with their core.

One name to keep an eye on is Zach LaVine. There were some concerns about giving LaVine a massive long-term contract extension due to his lingering knee issues. To start the 2022-23 season, he’s dealing with issues again.

The Bulls do not appear to have what it takes to contend for a championship. If they realize this and decide it’s best to trade veterans for draft assets, could LaVine be among the first to go? That’s the type of scenario the Knicks should monitor.

The Knicks need to make some sort of aggressive move to become a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. If they have confidence that acquiring LaVine would get them closer to that level, it’s a risk worth considering.

In the event that he does, here’s a deal that sends Zach LaVine to the New York Knicks.

Chicago Bulls Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, G Derrick Rose, 2023 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2025 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2027 First-Round Pick (NYK)

New York Knicks Receive: G Zach LaVine 

Of course, the Bulls just re-signed LaVine to a huge contract extension. Is there any precedent for a team re-signing a star player, only to trade him the following season? There is. Get ready for a history lesson.

We’re going to tell you all about Blake Griffin’s time with the Los Angeles Clippers. For our younger readers: the Clippers, for a long time, were a laughing stock. Throughout the 90s and early 00s, They were regularly among the worst teams in the NBA. Then, Griffin, along with Chris Paul, changed their fortunes.