Knicks Trade Rumors: Top 5 Point Guards To Consider

5. D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic

Age: 29 (11/10/1987)
Experience: 9th Season
Remaining Salary: Four Years, $29 Million
2016-17 Slash Line: .391/.361/.779
2016-17 Season Averages: 20.6 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 RPG, 1.4 3PM

The cost of quality NBA players has boomed to an all-time high. Even backups are making significant sums of money under the rising salary cap, which could complicate the New York Knicks’ effort to sign a starting and backup point guard in 2017.

Fortunately for the Knicks, Marc Stein of ESPN New York is reporting that Orlando Magic point guard D.J. Augustin has been included in trade discussions.

"The Detroit Pistons have discussed a trade with the Orlando Magic that would send point guard Reggie Jackson to the Magic in exchange for a package headlined by D.J. Augustin and Jeff Green, according to league sources."

New York may not have a Reggie Jackson to send to Orlando, but it has more than enough talent to net Augustin.

Augustin is in the first season of a four-year deal worth $29 million. He hasn’t produced in the manner expected of him in 2016-17, but he’s a nine-year veteran who has proven capable of working the pick and roll, and shooting the 3-ball.

There may be better options available to the Knicks, but there aren’t many who are signed to such affordable deals.

The upside with Augustin is that his combination of skills would make him a perfect fit in Jeff Hornacek’s offense. The downside is that he’s a mediocre defender and is signed to a four-year deal that New York may not be willing to commit to.

Nevertheless, as the Knicks prepare to enter a period of free agency during which both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are free agents, finding stability in the backup role would be beneficial.