Joel Embiid has been mentioned within league circles as the ideal trade candidate for the New York Knicks should he ever request a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Before Leon Rose was hired by the Knicks, he represented Embiid as his agent.

“Leon is my guy,” Embiid said after Rose was hired. “He’s like family to me. When I heard the news I was happy for him. He’s cool. Being an agent for such a long time and getting a GM or a president job I think is amazing. I’m so happy for him. I’m sure he’ll do a good job over there. I think he’s a great human being. He’s going to do a great job.”

The Indiana Pacers have emerged as a leading trade partner with the New York Knicks for Obi Toppin, sources tell Marc Stein of Substack.

Toppin was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Dayton.

In 67 games last season, Toppin averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.7 minutes.

The New York Knicks have emerged as favorites to sign Donte DiVincenzo of the Golden State Warriors. DiVincenzo declined a player option with the Warriors, after spending one season with the team. The Warriors are limited in how much they can pay DiVincenzo, due to only having his Non-Bird rights.

The Knicks have enough room to use the full Non-Taxpayer MLE in free agency, after Josh Hart opted in to his $12.9 million contract for next season. Reports are that Hart did so to give New York the ability to add talent to the roster for the upcoming season. Hart is expected to try and negotiate an extension with the Knicks.

DiVincenzo and Hart were teammates at Villanova, along with another current Knick in Jalen Brunson. New York has been looking to add some perimeter shooting and playmaking, which is what DiVincenzo would bring to the roster.

The New York Knicks have been linked with interest in trading for James Harden, but it may just be a cursory level as they continue to seek an even bigger star.

"I think they're trying to save their powder for maybe a huge named player that might become available in the next year," said Brian Windhorst of the Knicks. "So they've got a question: Is it worth using some of their draft assets or some of their young players in a trade for James Harden now, or can they wait for potentially a younger player who might be a better fit?"

Windhorst doesn't specify any names or even what level of star player the Knicks could be considering.

The Knicks had interest in Donovan Mitchell last offseason, but decided not to go all-in with a trade as they had concerns about having enough left over to trade for a second star at a later date.

Josh Hart has exercised his $12. 9 million option for the 23-24 season with the New York Knicks.

Hart will be eligible for up to a four-year, $80 million extension beginning in August.

The Knicks will have more flexibility in free agency

James Harden has picked up his $35.6 million player option with the Philadelphia 76ers and the two sides have begun to work together on a trade. The Sixers made it clear that Harden was not part of the Sixers' long-term plans.

Harden is not extension eligible and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers are among the teams expected to pursue a trade for Harden.

Donte DiVincenzo is set to decline his $4.7 million player option, sources told Kendra Andrews of ESPN.

DiVincenzo averaged 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.

DiVincenzo is drawing interest from the New York Knicks, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports and Ian Begley of SNY. 

Begley adds that the Knicks could turn their attention to Bruce Brown should they fail to sign DiVincenzo. 

Josh Hart and the New York Knicks have agreed to push back Hart's player option deadline from June 24 to June 29. That gives Hart five more days to decide if he wants to pick up his $12.96 million option for next season or to go into unrestricted free agency.

Hart and the Knicks could agree to extend his contract beyond next season, if Hart picks up his option. That would open up the $12.4 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception for New York.

The Knicks traded with the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire Hart ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. In 25 games with New York, Hart averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30 minutes per game off the bench. In his first playoff action, Hart averaged 10.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and started five of the Knicks 11 playoff games.

The New York Knicks have declined their $15.6 million team option for next season for Derrick Rose. Rose will now be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

New York may still look to re-sign Rose on a much cheaper contract. Rose has been a respected locker room veteran for the Knicks over the last few seasons.

By declining their option for Rose, New York will drop about $5.5 million below the luxury tax. That's likely to be only temporary, as Josh Hart is expected to decline his player option. Re-signing Hart will likely push the Knicks back over the tax line.

Jaylen Martin has agreed to a Two-Way contract with the New York Knicks.

Martin went undrafted out of Overtime Elite.