Will the New York Knicks make a trade by the deadline? If they do, here are some players the Knicks should consider.
As more and more players’ trade immunity vanishes with each passing NBA deadline, the floodgates will slowly begin to open, and fans and players alike will try their best to stay afloat amidst the latest transaction news and rumors. So beware of the waves of wishful jersey swaps and fan-made 6-team trade machine ‘masterpieces’ online.
On cue, rumors are flying left and right about who the next disgruntled star might be. For better or worse, New York’s front office has shown patience in pursuing big-name players, and their recent eight-game winning streak rejuvenated the city’s confidence in the team’s talent and quality.
And while the Knicks went on a frustrating five-game skid following the streak, they still played good basketball along the way (never mind the late-game free throw and rebounding woes and opposing monstrous player stat lines). They held a 7.7 net rating as they went 9-6 in December. During the entire season, they rank top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings.
As KFTV’s Alex Trataros has noted, the defense has been stellar, and Julius Randle, in particular, is regaining his all-star form (New York’s patience with him has really paid off). Of course, RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson deserve love too, and Quentin Grimes has been the 3&D+ player we were hoping he’d be.
That being said, the five-game losing streak highlighted some remaining flaws in the roster. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s switch to a nine-man rotation ended the early season idea of the roster’s depth as a strength. While it does breed consistency, things fall apart when one of the nine has to sit with injury or foul trouble. So if Rose, Fournier, and Reddish don’t have Thibs’ trust (and God forbid Obi Toppin doesn’t, either), the front office will need to search for another player on the market that would.
Also, while the Brunson-Grimes-Barrett-Randle-Robinson starting five has been spectacular (10.7 net rating in 304 minutes!), the second unit of McBride, Quickley, Hartenstein, and Sims lacks scoring and spacing, and the dual center lineup is not sustainable in the long-term. The Knicks need a wing that can fill that gap and give the core guys some much-needed rest.
No one except the actual organizations knows who exactly is available for trade. As fans, though, it is our job to speculate and dream. Below, I’ve listed some trade options the New York Knicks should at least consider if they’re serious about making a run this year.
The Luxury Knicks Trade Options
Kyle Kuzma: The 6’9” forward (and CAA client, I must note) is reportedly unlikely to sign an extension with the Washington Wizards and looks to be one of the best players available on the trade market. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns will surely keep an eye on him.
Averaging 21.4 points per game for Washington on 55.7 percent true shooting, he fits the description as a sixth-man-type scorer (a “sixth starter”) the Knicks could use off the bench. Kuzma’s size suggests some positional versatility as well, something the Knicks are so clearly missing that has made Thibs hesitant to run Randle at the 5. There are fair questions about his defense, but he takes on matchups against stars like LeBron James, and his experience playing winning basketball for a defensive-minded coach on the Lakers should help him adjust to New York.
One aftermath of the Gobert and Mitchell trades this summer is the general difficulty in gauging how many picks teams will be willing to give up to get the player they want. The Lakers have their prized future firsts, and the Suns own all their picks. So New York should proceed cautiously, but if the price is right (Rose/Fournier, Reddish, and one or two of the protected firsts, maybe), they should pull the trigger.
OG Anunoby: Anunoby’s name has been in the NBA trade machine more than it has come up in legitimate rumors, and for a good reason. Every team could use his lockdown defense, shooting, and ever-developing shot-creating ability. We have been expecting Toronto to at least test the waters on Anunoby’s market value since their championship run. Now that the 16-20 Raptors are beginning to implode (let’s forget Siakam’s masterclass on December 21st), there might be some juice behind the murmurs.
Per Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks have recently checked in on Anunoby’s availability. But as discussed on Zach Lowe’s The Lowe Post Podcast, New York will have some competition in this acquisition—just about every team would join the bidding war, and it could even take a “Donovan Mitchell-level of draft picks” to get the deal done.
Are the Knicks in a position to give that up? No, not for a non-top-25 player on a two-year deal, though the price is probably more comparable to what the Hawks gave up for Dejounte Murray. Anunoby feels like a player straight out of Thibs’ laboratory. But in terms of cost, it’s probably best to enjoy the in-house defensive juggernauts (Grimes, McBride, Quickley, Sims) and look elsewhere for a cheaper option.
Tobias Harris: New York fans treat the players’ contracts like it’s coming straight out of their pockets. (I guess, in a way, it does?). Sure, Harris’ $37 million due this season and $39 million due next are tough to look at. But as always, everything comes down to the asking price in these negotiations.
Similar to Kuzma, Harris provides scoring at the wing/forward position. He’s actually more efficient, with a 60.2 true shooting percentage. And with the Knicks’ solid team defense, all he would need to do is be serviceable on that end.
Harris would probably come off the bench when the team is at full strength, and he would be quite an expensive sixth man. But for what it’s worth, Fournier and Rose’s (and you could throw Reddish in there, too) contracts would match his deal. And also, his expiring deal next season would give the Knicks some substantial flexibility to make another trade should another big contract player become available.
Some Cheaper Knicks Trade Alternatives
Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley, and Eric Gordon: All three veteran scorers are probably priced at a first-round pick. The Knicks even inquired about Gordon’s availability not too long ago. Beasley is my favorite option for his pure shooting, and his ability to shoot off screens would diversify the offense. But in general, New York might be better off keeping the draft capital over players who wouldn’t move the needle as much as they’d like. At the very least, I’d prefer the Knicks find taller, more positionally versatile players.
Kelly Oubre: Oubre is similar, but he’s on a 1-year deal (and taller), so the Hornets may look at a Cam Reddish flyer or some second-rounders as enough compensation. And while he does have some frustrating lapses of judgment on the court—bound to make Thibs angry at least twice a game—he has the size and athleticism to defend and enough offense to keep the team afloat in spurts. His efficiency (42.1 field goal percentage, 30.8 three-point percentage) leaves much to be desired, but maybe that helps lower his price.
Gary Trent: The 6’5” wing has a player option on his contract and might refuse to be part of the Raptors’ future after a recent demotion to the sixth man. With some foresight, Toronto could make him available for teams like the Knicks, who could use the scoring punch. He’s nowhere near the defender Anunoby is—not even close—but he’s a high-level catch-and-shoot grenadier who could space the floor for a Knicks second unit that struggles to score. Again, though, the Knicks should be cautious about giving up too much for little gain.
Josh Richardson: A quintessential 3&D player, Richardson could eat up some minutes at the wing while playing a supporting role to Brunson, Barrett, and Randle. The Spurs are another team that might be interested in Reddish, though Gregg Popovich might prefer some draft capital over an ‘iso scorer.’ Either way, he’d be a great fit in the rotation, allowing Thibs to stagger the top three scorers’ minutes and give guys more time to rest through the lulls of the season. He’s not an elite scorer, but his game could help any team, especially the Knicks, who rank 25th (33.8 percent) in three-point shooting and value defense.
Some Other Options Because They’re Out There
Pacers/Obi Toppin: Per NBA Insider Sean Deveney, the Indiana Pacers are interested in Obi Toppin—grab your ice cream and tissues. Seeing lobs from Tyrese Haliburton to Toppin in Indiana sounds like the epitome of being a Knicks fan. Poetry writes itself. Hard not to be traumatic about basketball, or whatever Brad Pitt said.
It’s unclear who else would be part of the deal. Myles Turner is an unlikely get. Maybe Buddy Hield should be another name in the previous category. Maybe Chris Duarte, who the Knicks liked in the 2021 draft, would be the return. Perhaps it’s Jalen Smith. More realistically, New York is probably aiming for future draft picks to add to their stash.
Regardless, this news, Toppin’s leg injury, and Randle’s recent streak of great games are making it clear which power forward the Knicks see as part of their future. Those debates might finally be nearing an end.
Jae Crowder: Yeah, I’m good on that. But he’s available, and he’s a veteran who defends, and he shoots (though not that great), so I wouldn’t put it past this front office to view him as a 1-year rental.
DeMar DeRozan: Grand opening, grand closing for this Bulls team’s hopes of being an Eastern Conference contender. The clock is ticking for them to punt on this roster and rebuild. I hope the Knicks aren’t part of that, though. We have enough mid-range scorers as is, and good team defense can only cover so many mistakes. Pass on DeRozan.
Zach LaVine: Zach LaVine’s new contract has an annual average value of $43 million. He doesn’t play defense. He has an extensive injury history. And he doesn’t even dunk that much anymore. Send him to Dallas to play with Don Luka instead.
Karl-Anthony Towns: NO!
Trae Young: LOL!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out Knicks News, where CP and Alex discuss New York’s front office inquiring about OG Anunoby!
