The ability of the New York Knicks to trade for a star has become more difficult as their young players haven't emerged as potential stars. The combination of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickly, Obi Toppin and Quentin Grimes have shown promise at times, especially Barrett.

"If they are going to give up their picks and swaps to get someone, it doesn't matter who they are trading," a Western Conference executive said. "But if their hope was to turn these guys into good players by themselves, I'd be hard-pressed to see a team thinking they'll take that for a star."

The disappointing season of Julius Randle also could make it less likely that a star player directs himself to the Knicks.

"If you look at the last two or three deals that happened, those teams already had a guy, and were adding a second guy," another East executive said.

"James Harden [to the 76ers], Jrue Holiday [to the Bucks], Anthony Davis [to the Lakers] ... Philly had Embiid, Milwaukee had Giannis, the Lakers had LeBron. ...

"The Knicks do not have that. They're trying to get the first guy."