New York Knicks dream point guard scenarios for the future

With the point guard position a major question mark moving forward, the New York Knicks have a variety of dream options at their disposal.

During the New York Knicks current slide, many of the team’s flaws have been exposed. Some of these flaws include a lack of hustle and giving up too many second-chance points, sloppy ball-handling skills and a lack of toughness under the basket.

However, one of their biggest problems is something that has been plaguing the organization for years. They don’t have a top-tier point guard, specifically one who can distribute the basketball.

This is not a knock on Derrick Rose. He has enjoyed a respectable season, averaging close to 18 points-per-game, and has had some big baskets like the shot that sealed the win against the Portland Trail Blazers in November.

However, Rose is not the long-term solution at point guard if the Knicks want a shot at winning a title in the next five seasons. He has proven to be sloppy with the basketball as of later and his lingering back spasms issues are a cause for concern.

If Rose wants a multi-year deal after this season, the Knicks should tell him thanks but no thanks and stick with Brandon Jennings as a short-term option at the point. A solution at point guard might have to wait beyond next season, but these options at point guard could be worth it for coming seasons.

Here are three dream scenarios for the New York Knicks at the point guard position in the future:

Sign Chris Paul in 2018

This makes most sense and is probably the most realistic move for the Knicks. Yes, he is north of 30-years-old, but CP3 will still have at least three good playing years left in him after next year. They need somebody who can dish the basketball and Paul is currently the best passing point guard in the game along with Russell Westbrook.

This season, he is averaging close to a double-double at 17.7 points and 9.5 assists-per-game. The thought of him feeding Kristaps Porzingis for ally-oops or open three-pointers has to put a smile on Knicks fans faces. Paul is also good friends with Carmelo Anthony which could make the Knicks an intriguing option for him.

Unless the Los Angeles Clippers win a title by next season, there is a very good chance that CP3 will leave as a free agent. He has to be sick of not getting past the second round of the playoffs and will probably want to sign with an Eastern Conference team where his path to the finals won’t have to go through teams like the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.

Of all the teams in the East, the Knicks currently make the most sense for Paul. All of the other top teams in the conference already have star point guards. The Cleveland Cavaliers have Kyrie Irving. The Boston Celtics have Isaiah Thomas and the Toronto Raptors have Kyle Lowry (both of whom are free agents in 2018, but their respective clubs will probably do everything they can to resign them).

If the Cavaliers could trade Irving or move him to shooting guard, they could become the favorites to land Paul. Cleveland would also probably be his top choice as they would give him the best shot at a ring and a chance to play with LeBron James. However, barring some sort of disaster in the playoffs in the next two seasons, it is hard to imagine any major shake ups to the Cavs roster.

Another option for CP3 could be the Spurs if Tony Parker retires within the next two seasons. San Antonio would also give Paul a realistic shot at winning a championship and he would probably love to play under Greg Popovich, but who knows if Parker will want to hang it up by the end of next year?

A lot could change over the next year and a half, but the way things currently stand, the Knicks have a realistic chance to sign Paul next summer. He would form a nice “Big Three” with Anthony and Porzingis and make the Knicks a top team in the East.

Would they become the team to beat over the Cavs? Probably not. However, they could give Cleveland a run for their money.

Paul wanted to be traded to the Knicks prior to the 2011-12 season, but New York did not have the cap space to do it after acquiring Tyson Chandler. It’s still hard to imagine he wouldn’t love the chance to play in the Big Apple.

Acquire Kyrie Irving for Carmelo Anthony

King James has expressed interest in playing with Melo and CP3. If you’re the Knicks, why not help James get his wish if you can benefit from it too.

It’s hard to imagine the Cavs telling Irving, who arguably hit the biggest shot in team history during game seven of The Finals last June, to move to shooting guard. But they could try to get something in return for him and make room for Paul.

There is the question of whether or not Anthony is still the same player he was a few years ago and the Knicks might have to throw in another player in the deal (possibly Courtney Lee), but it is still a good trade for both sides.

For the Knicks, Irving would give them scoring numbers similar to Melo while also being able to distribute the ball (even if he is not quite the passer Paul is). He and Porzingis would be a staple at the Garden for years to come and could have the Knicks on the path to title contention. Irving, who grew up in the greater New York City area, would probably love running the show in The World’s Most Famous Arena.

For Cleveland, James would have his wish granted of playing with two of his best friends and trying to them win rings. The Cavaliers would still be the best team in the East and one of the favorites to win the title.

Although Anthony has a no-trade clause and continues to say that he wants to remain a Knick, it is tough to see him vetoing a deal that would give him a chance to play win James and an instant shot at winning at becoming an NBA Champion.

The way things currently stand, the chances of a trade like this happening are not high and unless Cleveland could swing a deal with the Clippers for Paul this summer, this type of deal would have to wait till 2018.

However, you never know what could happen, especially in the playoffs. What if the Warriors get the best of the Cavs in The Finals the next two years? If the Cavaliers don’t win multiple titles King James could start convincing their front office to make some changes.

Sign Stephen Curry this summer

The chances of this happening are probably slim-to-none.

The Warriors will do everything in their power to keep Curry this summer and with the new collective bargaining agreement, they can probably hand him a blank check.

But it is nice to dream, and if he does somehow decides to leave the Warriors, why not the Knicks?

He already has a ring and as Mark Messier can tell you, if you win a title at the Garden you can run for mayor of New York.