It's no secret the Knicks are still in rebuilding mode this season. But next season they are looking to make a big leap from bottom of the barrel team in the East, to a high-powered contender.

How? Taking advantage of a stout free-agent market.

Knicks C Enes Kanter may be gearing up for this season, but he does have his mind on future free agency that could see a couple All-Stars as new teammates by the end of it. It was reported earlier that Celtics PG Kyrie Irving and Timberwolves G Jimmy Butler have talked about teaming up together in the NBA, and New York could be that destination in 2019 when they both hit free agency.

Kanter has faith the Knicks will be right on top of that.

"Yes," he told Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd when asked if Irving and Butler have geunine interest in joining the Knicks. "And the Knicks have a really, really high chance to get them next offseason. I believe that and I promise I think they will."

There may even be a third player to join the group, with NBC Sports Chicago's Vincent Goodwill saying a "very accomplished NBA player" is plotting to join Irving and Butler wherever they land. Kanter mentioned Warriors F Kevin Durant as well, but fitting all three of those stars under one salary cap would be tough.

Getting any one of these players would be a massive upgrade for the Knicks, and playoff hopes would likely be restored in The Garden. Kanter knows the fans desperately need it.

"Some of the fans...they don't even know how to spell playoffs anymore," he said.

Knicks fans will have to wait one more season, though, as the team continues to give their young players time on the court to hopefully make them reliable pieces down the road. Rookies Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson have both shown loads of promise during their summer league games this season, and with other young players like Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke, and even the 26-year-old Kanter, the Knicks' future has the potential to be very bright.

That is why Kanter is confident fans can expect the team to be relevant once again in the East. He promised.

"I know the media is so tough on the Knicks, but I promise you guys in a couple years, we're going to put the Knicks on the map again."

An Irving-Butler combo would certainly help see that promise through.

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