The NBA Trade Deadline is almost here. So the Knicks Fan TV writers came together to give their takes on certain topics surrounding the team.
The New York Knicks have struggled this season to say the least. They’re past the halfway point and slowly approaching the NBA All-Star break. But before the break is here, the NBA Trade Deadline is just a few days away. So the Knicks Fan TV writers came together to give their takes on certain topics that have been circling this team.
*Editors Note: None of the writers discussed our responses before submitting them. Also, some responses were submitted prior to the trades that happened earlier today. Enjoy!
Between Alec Burks and Evan Fournier, who are the Knicks most likely to trade?
Mike: Burks. His contract is easier to move and can be very useful to a contending team with his versatility despite his recent struggles. Fournier has played well of late and seems to be finding his niche with the Knicks. Despite reports, I also believe a major motivation for moving Burks is a desire to see Cam Reddish get real minutes.
Paul: I think both players are on very tradeable contracts at the moment. But I think Alec Burks’ contract would be more appealing to teams looking to trade. Burks had a big impact on the Knicks’ success last year and has shown he can step up in big moments. He would add great scoring value to any team he was traded to without hitting the salary cap too hard.
Geoffrey: I would say Burks just because his contract is so attractive. He’s been in a major slump (while Evan Fournier is playing well), but I still think contract combined with his skill set that Burks fits into so many rotations and salary caps with ease.
Remi: Burks seems like the more realistic option. His contract is better suited for the typical deadline deals that we see, with fringe playoff teams looking for low-risk additions to tighten up rotations. That cheaper, shorter contract of his is a lot easier to move than Fournier’s. I’m also not sure that the front office will want to move on so quickly from their big free-agent splash now that he’s begun to come around.
Chip: It has to be Alec Burks. Fournier has an additional guaranteed year on his contract and makes roughly $10 million more per year. Fournier has been better this season, but there’s a contender out there that will talk themselves into Burks. He’s been traded twice near the deadline in his career already.
Alex: Alec Burks is the answer here. In contrast to Evan Fournier, Burk’s contract is much more tolerable because it’s a year shorter and is on average $21 million less (regarding guaranteed years). On top of that, Burks has performed for most of the season either around or above his contract value, while the same cannot be said for Fournier. Also, according to Steve Popper, Fournier’s contract has not been so easy to move.
Is Kemba Walker traded or waived?
Mike: In my opinion, it does not matter as long as he is no longer a Knick. If the team can get an asset, that would be ideal. Regardless, he cannot be in the rotation following the deadline. He is uninvolved in the offense, whether by a personal choice or Thibs’ coaching style and gives nothing on the defensive end. It is a shame that Kemba’s return home did not go as planned, but the experiment must end.
Paul: Kemba will most likely be traded. Hopefully, they have better options lined up to replace him. Otherwise, it’s better to try and get some return for him. He has been very disappointing this season, but he can still impact the team on the court.
Geoffrey: I think the Knicks will find a trade partner. They won’t get much more than future 2nd or something like that.
Remi: They’re bound to find someone willing to give up a future second for him. I don’t think New York will have to waive him.
Chip: I think it’s more likely Kemba is waived. There’s no reason for any team to give up assets for a player when his own coach doesn’t even believe he should be on the court.
Alex: Kemba Walker will probably be traded. My trade destination for Kemba Walker is the LA Clippers. Since the Clippers traded Eric Bledsoe, they don’t have a backup point guard. So the trade would probably be Serge Ibaka for Kemba Walker and one of the teams giving up a second-round pick.
Does Julius Randle get traded by the deadline?
Mike: I would say it is more likely that Julius remains a Knick at this point. Despite reports swirling, we have seen a more engaged version of Julius this past week and the team looked better as a result of it. A Randle for Fox swap is intriguing, but it’s also not a sure thing for the Knicks. My only concern is that the situation in New York continues to grow more contentious, with the Knicks having no way out after the deadline.
Paul: I would be very surprised if Randle is traded by the deadline. His value is probably as low as it can be, so trading him now when no big return seems feasible just wouldn’t make any sense. I think he will be here until the offseason when this front office decides to make its big move.
Geoffrey: Absolutely not. Leon Rose is not trading the first player he’s extended since taking the job. It’s been less than a full season. The narrative surrounding him isn’t positive, and as a result, the return for him won’t be that positive either. Randle is not as good as he was this past season, and he’s not as bad as he’s shown this season. Both sides have to figure out how to make it work, at least for one more year.
Remi: I don’t think the front office is determined to trade him, so it would have to be with enough talent in return to keep a top-ten seed within reach. The current Western Conference road trip might play a determining factor in all of this. Randle has started to show signs of life in the past few games, and a few games away from the Garden might help ease some of the pressure that was mounting.
Chip: No. I’d be shocked if Julius Randle were traded before the deadline.
Alex: I highly doubt that the Knicks are moving Julius Randle before the trade deadline. His trade value is the lowest it can possibly be, so I can see the Knicks sticking with Randle for the remainder of this season (and potentially another year after that). Ideally, everything works out between Randle and the Knicks, and he can be one of the pieces to help this team grow. But I feel that he won’t be a Knick for his entire contract.
De’Aaron Fox or Jalen Brunson?
Mike: De’Aaron Fox. Mark Cuban recently reiterated his desire to keep Brunson after his breakout season. With Fox, there are two young guards playing well on the Sacramento Kings, making his presence somewhat expendable. Fox’s price might not be as high as advertised, and as discussed in the previous question, a Randle for Fox swap seems to make sense for both parties. The only question is, do the Knicks pull the trigger?
Paul: I would prefer De’Aaron Fox, but I think the Kings’ recent trade means that it will be impossible to trade for him this season. However, if their experiment fails, he could be available this time next year. Brunson seems to be someone the Knicks have been consistently linked to, and he would be the best option at the moment.
Geoffrey: Neither. When Rose took the job, Knicks fans immediately fantasized about the first big deal he would pull off, ideally utilizing all his connections from years of running one of the top sports agencies in the world (yes, it’s tampering, and it happens all the time). It would be a major letdown if that deal were for either Fox or Brunson. It’s just doesn’t feel like we’re in the driver’s seat or have much leverage.
Remi: I’d lean toward Jalen Brunson because of the fit and the lower price that his contract will likely command. Beggars can’t be choosers, so I’d be happy to take a shot on Fox if he were available. But Brunson has the range and comfort playing off-ball to fit this offense like a glove.
Chip: Jalen Brunson is the right call because Fox is such a big risk. He struggles to shoot the three, and he’s signed at $30 million for four years per season.
Alex: GIVE. ME. BRUNSON. Brunson, to me, is giving me Kyle Lowry vibes. He is a small guard, cerebral, can score at three levels and can defend. Sure, he’s not the most athletic or flashiest player out there. But as long as the ball goes in the hoop and makes his teammates better (which he does), then that’s all that matters. Also, unlike De’Aaron Fox, he won’t be as costly and offers a more diverse skillset than Fox.
What’s your ideal Knicks starting lineup post trade deadline?
Mike: Ideally, with the Fox rumors being true, I would love to see Fox Grimes RJ Obi Mitch. Would Thibs run that lineup? Most likely not. So, in that case, I’d settle for Immanuel Quickley, Evan, RJ Barrett, Randle, and Mitchell Robinson.
Paul: I don’t know how the deadline will pan out, so I’ll assume we make no trades. I would go with Quickley, Fournier, RJ, Randle, and Mitch. I would love to see IQ being given a starting spot to see if he would make it his own. He and RJ also complement each other’s style very well but rarely seem to see the floor together.
Geoffrey: Burks, Fournier, RJ, Randle, Mitch
Remi: Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson
Chip: PG – CJ McCollum, SG – Quentin Grimes, SF – RJ Barrett, PF – Julius Randle, C – Mitchell Robinson
Alex: Quickley, Grimes, Barrett, Randle, Robinson. That is my ideal lineup, but it is unlikely that this is what we will get the closer we are getting to the trade deadline.
Which players on this Knicks roster are untouchable?
Mike: RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and Quentin Grimes are currently untouchable, in my opinion. While I love Quickley, I am aware that some young players will not be here long term in order to maximize the value of assets. It’s hard to imagine the Knicks wanting to part with any of these guys, but I think the three listed should be off the table for sure.
Paul: I think most of the young guys are technically untouchable at this moment. RJ is the only actual untouchable player on the roster, I believe. Even though all of the young guys (IQ, Grimes, and Obi) are highly valued, I believe that the front office would include them in a trade for someone they think would elevate the team to that next level. RJ is a cornerstone that embodies the team’s spirit and has a ceiling that we haven’t even begun to see yet, and I believe that sets him apart.
Geoffrey: None. I’m close to saying RJ, but even with his iconic performance versus the Los Angeles Lakers, we still need to consistently see that type of performance. And if you’re sitting there saying that other players or rotation decisions are holding him back, trust me, that’s more of an indictment on RJ than anything else.
Remi: RJ Barrett is the only player that I would truly consider untouchable. It would take something miraculous to get me to move Quentin Grimes, and I put both Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin in the “I really want to keep this guy” lane. Likewise, Mitch would be untouchable if I were certain the Knicks would re-sign him. But RJ Barrett is the only player who stops the negotiation before it begins.
Chip: RJ Barrett is the only player on the roster that should be untouchable. I know that might be controversial to say, but I think the worst untouchable is overused.
Alex: RJ Barrett is the only true untouchable on this team. I would love for Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Miles McBride, and Jericho Sims to be in that category. However, those guys that I mentioned haven’t earned that classification. I only consider RJ untouchable because we see him improve every season and make an impact on this team at the age of 21. Also, his mentality and work ethic are qualities that are not easy to come by, which is great leadership and culture setting material.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, make sure to check out CP on WFANwhere he discusses the Knicks before the NBA Trade Deadline.
