Knicks could target rising Los Angeles Lakers guard

The New York Knicks are going for it all next season. After bowing out in the Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, the team has been in the market for star upgrades so far this offseason. 

A new name has come up in rumors for the Knicks recently in the form of a Los Angeles Lakers star. No, not Luka Doncic or LeBron James, but rather rising guard Austin Reaves. Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix made the case for Reaves to end up in New York.

“I might look at a team like New York, that has Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, three-and-d types of guys,” Mannix said on the Open Floor podcast. “The Knicks under Mike Brown, looking to become more diverse offensively, maybe they’d be interested in something like that.”

Reaves has been a major success story in the NBA after being undrafted out of Oklahoma. In four seasons with the Lakers, Reaves is averaging 14.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. He has seen his numbers rise across the board each season, and this past season averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists per game as the third option behind James and Doncic. 

Adding Reaves to the Knicks would make them one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the NBA — as if they aren’t already — under new head coach Mike Brown. While nothing has materialized quite yet, it is certainly something to keep an eye on as the Knicks look to maximize their championship window this season.