New York Knicks Enter Fierce Bidding War With Three NBA Franchises for Chance to Land Former No. 1 Overall Pick

New York Knicks Enter Fierce Bidding War With Three NBA Franchises for Chance to Land Former No. 1 Overall Pick

The New York Knicks have made their intentions clear: they’re no longer content with being a feel-good story or a playoff gatekeeper. They want to win, and win big. According to league sources, the Knicks have entered a high-stakes bidding war with three other NBA franchises for the services of a former No. 1 overall pick—an acquisition that could alter the franchise’s championship trajectory for years to come.

While the identity of the player has not been confirmed publicly, reports strongly indicate that the player in question is either Zion Williamson, Deandre Ayton, or Karl-Anthony Towns—three former top overall selections whose names have swirled through the rumor mill in recent months. Each comes with his own blend of upside, baggage, and potential fit. But regardless of who it is, one thing is clear: the Knicks are ready to push their chips to the center of the table.

New York is not alone in this pursuit. Three other teams—believed to be the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks, and the San Antonio Spurs—are in serious negotiations, hoping to strike a blockbuster before the season tips off. This race could come down to which team is willing to part with the most attractive mix of young talent, picks, and financial flexibility.

Leon Rose and the Knicks front office are operating with an urgency that hasn’t been felt in decades. After a successful but ultimately frustrating playoff exit last season, New York finds itself at a crossroads. The team has a franchise point guard in Jalen Brunson, elite perimeter defenders in OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, and depth across multiple positions. What it lacks is a true co-star—someone who can take over games, tilt defensive schemes, and lift the team when Brunson is bottled up.

The Knicks have a stockpile of assets—future draft picks from Detroit, Washington, and Milwaukee, along with their own—and a collection of appealing young players, including Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, and Mitchell Robinson. These assets have remained untouched during previous trade windows, but that may be changing now.

If the front office views this moment as a now-or-never opportunity to vault into true contender status, the willingness to part with multiple first-rounders and rotation players could make New York the favorite in the sweepstakes.

The appeal of trading for a former No. 1 overall pick goes beyond raw talent. These are players who were once projected to be franchise saviors—elite athletes with superstar potential. Whether it’s Williamson’s unmatched explosiveness, Towns’ rare shooting touch for a center, or Ayton’s post presence, these names still carry weight across front offices and with fans.

Each of the presumed candidates brings something different to the Knicks:

• Zion Williamson: Still only 25, Williamson remains one of the league’s most physically gifted players. Injuries have marred his early career, but when healthy, he’s a walking 25-point double-double with elite efficiency. His transition game would pair beautifully with Brunson, and he’d immediately become the face of Madison Square Garden.
• Karl-Anthony Towns: The Knicks have long been linked to Towns due to his ties with Leon Rose and former Kentucky teammates. KAT provides spacing, scoring versatility, and a big-man skillset that could relieve pressure on Julius Randle. Concerns over his defense and playoff poise linger, but there’s no denying the offensive upgrade he would provide.
• Deandre Ayton: The dark horse of the group, Ayton has had an uneven career post-Phoenix. While he hasn’t lived up to the hype of a No. 1 selection, his size, rebounding, and age (just 27) make him an intriguing buy-low candidate. A move to New York could be a career reset.

Any of the three would signal a seismic shift in the Knicks’ plans, both on the court and financially.

According to insiders, the Knicks are exploring several trade packages. One scenario involves sending Julius Randle and multiple first-round picks. Another has them including a combination of Quentin Grimes, Jericho Sims, and Bojan Bogdanović’s expiring contract to match salary while retaining Randle as a second or third option.

Here are a few potential frameworks being discussed:

• Package A:
  • Julius Randle
  • Quentin Grimes
  • 2026 Knicks first-round pick (unprotected)
  • 2027 Milwaukee first-round pick
  • 2028 pick swap
• Package B:
  • Mitchell Robinson
  • Miles McBride
  • Bojan Bogdanović
  • 2025 Detroit pick (top-10 protected)
  • 2027 Knicks first-round pick
• Package C:
  • RJ Barrett (in a rare scenario if the Knicks decide to make Brunson and Randle the only untouchables)
  • 2026 Knicks first-round pick
  • 2028 unprotected swap
  • Two second-rounders

The Knicks will be careful not to gut the roster for one star, especially with the memory of past disasters still fresh. But they also recognize that the right piece could unlock a title window in an Eastern Conference that remains winnable outside of Boston.

Each of the other three teams in the running offers unique advantages:

• Chicago Bulls: The Bulls are searching for direction post-Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Adding a marquee name could reinvigorate their rebuild and help sell tickets. They can offer Lonzo Ball’s contract for salary matching and young players like Patrick Williams or Ayo Dosunmu.
• Atlanta Hawks: Having just moved Dejounte Murray, Atlanta is retooling around Trae Young. They can offer future picks, De’Andre Hunter, and even Onyeka Okongwu in the right deal. Atlanta’s interest in Williamson or Towns would be based on maximizing Trae’s window before he considers his own future.
• San Antonio Spurs: This might be the most interesting destination. With Victor Wembanyama establishing himself as a generational talent, the Spurs are exploring who can complement him best. Whether it’s Ayton as a traditional big beside him or Zion as a transition weapon, San Antonio has the draft capital and flexibility to outbid almost anyone—if they choose to accelerate the rebuild.

What makes this scenario even more dramatic is the timing. Teams are eyeing the late-summer window to finalize rosters ahead of training camp. Any blockbuster now gives a team time to build chemistry before the October tip-off. The longer negotiations drag, the more likely it becomes that teams balk at the risk of mid-season integration.

Additionally, there’s the looming presence of other stars who could hit the market later—Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, and even Joel Embiid depending on Philadelphia’s season. If the Knicks feel they can wait for a bigger fish, they may hold back. But waiting always comes with the risk of standing still while others leap forward.

Knicks fans are divided. Some are desperate to see the front office go all-in, arguing that the team has waited long enough for a genuine contender. Others are cautious, fearing a repeat of past trade disasters (like the Carmelo Anthony deal) that emptied the cupboard for short-term gains.

What makes this moment different, however, is the foundation that’s already in place. Unlike previous Knicks regimes, this team has stability, development, and a culture built under Tom Thibodeau. Making a move now isn’t desperation—it’s ambition.

If the Knicks land the right former No. 1 pick, the team could not only win the trade—they could win the East.

For the first time in decades, the New York Knicks are legitimate players in a championship conversation. But to move from good to great, from potential to power, they’ll need a second star—and they might be just days away from getting him.

Whether it’s Zion, Towns, or Ayton, one thing is clear: the Knicks are ready to strike. And the entire NBA is watching.