It has been eight seasons since the Knicks last had a winning season and made the playoffs, but this year, they are closing in on making the playoffs, but will likely be in one of the two play-in games in the Eastern Conference this season. While there is still a ton of basketball yet to be played this season, the Knicks are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season and have looked like a dominant playoff-caliber team at times this season.

Led by breakout star and first-time All-Star Julius Randle, the Knicks have found themselves in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference for weeks now and have strung together some really impressive wins against some of the top teams in the league this season.

Tom Thibodeau has done an excellent job in his first season as the Knicks head coach and this is exactly the type of season New York needed to have. Over the years, they have been unable to land big name players who want to play in Madison Square Garden for one of the NBA’s most historic franchises because they have been so poorly run as a team.

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Not only does New York have the capability to land two max-contract players in free agency this offseason, but they have been linked to numerous players over the last few months. With a projected $60M+ in cap space this offseason, the Knicks are expected to pursue several big name players in free agency and through potential trades, but who could they look to pair with Randle and Barrett? 

Let’s take a look at three star players for the New York Knicks to target in the offseason, not only increasing their chances of being a yearly playoff team, but increasing their chances of once again becoming championship contenders.