New York Knicks: Without Kevin Knox, making Anthony Davis trade falters

With speculation on the New York Knicks and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly not high on Kevin Knox.

To acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, the New York Knicks may need to clear house. Worthwhile or not, it would bring a superstar to Manhattan via trade for the first time since 2011; however, there might be a hiccup to talks.

Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, while the Knicks want to make a run at Davis, New Orleans is “not high” on Kevin Knox, New York’s 2018 first-round pick. Marc Berman of the New York Post had reported the Pelicans’ interest in Knox earlier this month.

Potentially discluding the Kentucky product from trade talks obviously makes it more difficult for the Knicks. Without him, and pending a refusal to move Mitchell Robinson, Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina are the only other players under contract for 2019-20. Allonzo Trier, who played above expectations as an undrafted rookie, has a $3.5 million team option.

Finding the correct combination of players, if without Knox and Robinson, is a mountain to climb for the Knicks. They might have to send all of Smith, Ntilikina and Trier, and not just them, but a trunk of picks just to acquire the disgruntled star.

The Knicks have the No. 3 pick and Dallas’ 2021 and 2023 first-round selections. Each of them is valuable, and the front office has not traded any of their own future picks in the opening round. Moving too many of them can hurt opportunities at depth down the road.

The Knicks have worked to keep their assets. Few have conveyed, aside from the 2018 draft picks. They have two selections in 2019, with that third overall choice offering the chance at RJ Barrett, De’Andre Hunter or another regarded talent. While valuable towards a deal, it would represent just a fraction of what general manager Scott Perry and president Steve Mills have to include.

Of course, if Davis leads New York to the NBA Finals, this is not an issue. None of it.

So maybe the Knicks willingly send all the picks necessary to acquire Davis and keep one piece of their young core in place, even if the Pelicans do not want him. Knox struggled mightily as a rookie at times, offering inefficient offense and nonexistent defense, but he was just age 19 and technically a college sophomore. A long road is ahead.

If there is a refusal to move Robinson and ante up the draft picks, the New York Knicks won’t acquire Davis. Their roster is too thin outside of Robinson for worthwhile value, unless the fresh New Orleans regime like Smith, Trier and Ntilikina enough. They might find it easier to sign Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and use the pieces in place as depth around them.