The Thunder's Chris Paul makes a pass during the first half of an NBA first-round playoff game against the Rockets in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Sept. 2. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
The Knicks had chased stars in free agency, tanked their way to high lottery picks and still had a roster without the superstar that the team craved to lift the franchise’s fortunes and lure more stars to New York.
So a trade for Chris Paul, reuniting him with Knicks president Leon Rose, who had served as his agent before switching career paths, made sense. But the Knicks were shut out in the chase for Paul as he instead left Oklahoma City for Phoenix.