Are the Knicks finally a legitimate trade destination for stars?

It feels like every year, several major free agents or disgruntled superstars are linked to possibly heading to New York to join the Knicks only for the players to sign elsewhere, leaving the Knicks scrambling to slightly overpay whatever veterans are still available. 

But could that finally be changing? Maybe, at least according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who claimed on The Hoops Collective that head coach Tom Thibedeau has made New York a more preferred free agent and trade destination.

"I say within the next 12 months a star/superstar player demands a trade to New York," Windhorst said. "And I don't know who it's going to be. I have some guesses; I'm not going to say right here. I'll let you guys start thinking about that. Let's just put it this way: League executives certainly have some guesses."

Of course, just like Charlie Brown running with boundless optimism towards the football that Lucy will inevitably pull away at the last second, this all-too-familiar routine could leave the Knicks worse off than when they started. 

It certainly helps that so far, the Knicks have managed to at least look like a functional basketball team, and if Thibs is able to get them to the playoffs, perhaps they will finally be able to attract their first star since Carmelo Anthony.