NBA Trade Rumors: Available Guards Knicks Must Pursue

Dec 26, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard

(7) before the game against the Boston Celtics at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have an opportunity to make a splash at or before the 2015 NBA trade deadline. With a rising salary cap and a long list of available guards, including some on expiring contracts, Phil Jackson could change the trajectory of the organization for years to come.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, that change could be made in the backcourt.

The question is, where should the Knicks be looking?

There are a number of available options, which makes this juncture of the season a critical one. New York is talented enough to compete for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, but appears to lack the firepower to win the necessary number of games.

The right trade could change everything.

Next: The Sixth Man

Dec 28, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard

(11) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards forward

Jr. (12) looks on in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Position: Guard

Age: 35

Salary: $5,675,000 (Expiring)

Slash Line: .371/.319/.929

Season Averages: 25.3 MPG, 11.6 PPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 RPG, 1.2 3PM

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the once promising second unit has fallen apart since its scorching start. It isn’t necessarily a liability, but its inconsistency puts unnecessary pressure on the starting lineup.

Who better to help in that regard than two-time Sixth Man of the Year and former New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford? He is available.

According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, the Clippers are gauging the trade interest in Crawford from around the league.

Marc Stein of ESPN and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports have reported the same.

Crawford, who’s on an expiring contract, is synonymous with instant offense. He can operate from the 1 or the 2, has range on his jump shot, is an all-time free throw shooter, and thrives a lethal threat in isolation.

If New York isn’t going to work its way out of its isolation tendencies, it might as well find players who can thrive in such a capacity.

Beyond that glass-half-full mentality is the reality that Crawford is one of the most respected locker room presences in the NBA. He’d fit in well with young players, teaming with the current veterans to help rookies Jerian Grant and Kristaps Porzingis adjust to life in the Association.

It’s not a foolproof plan, but Crawford could be had for a somewhat reasonable asking price. Frank Isola of The New York Daily News reported in August that New York had interest in the 35-year-old.

Next: The Cross-Borough Option

Dec 4, 2015; New York, NY; Brooklyn Nets guard

(2) dribbles the ball as New York Knicks guard

(3) defends in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Jarrett Jack, Brooklyn Nets

Position: Point Guard

Age: 32

Salary: $6,300,000

Slash Line: .404/.320/.890

Season Averages: 32.4 MPG, 13.5 PPG, 7.2 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 3PM

The Brooklyn Nets are 9-22, which is a number that speaks for itself. Barring a miracle turnaround, Brooklyn will miss the playoffs in 2015-16—and it won’t have a draft pick to show for it.

Thus, it’d behoove the New York Knicks to explore their options with point guard Jarrett Jack.

Jack isn’t a star, but he’s in his 11th season—a point that most never reach—and is on a very affordable contract. He’ll make $6.3 million in 2016-17, with only $500,000 guaranteed.

According to Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com, most around the league expect Brooklyn to move the 32-year-old before the trade deadline.

"The Nets are going nowhere fast and there is an increasing sense around the league that the Nets may look to blow things up before the trade deadline…There is a belief that when the Nets start pulling this roster apart, [Jarrett] Jack is one of the guys likely to be moved."

Jack is a player whom the Knicks should pursue.

The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets star is averaging 13.5 points and a career-high 7.2 assists through 30 appearances in 2015-16. He’s not elite in any area, but he does a little bit of everything and is more than capable of providing a star-caliber outing from time-to-time.

Also regarded as a clutch scorer, Jack’s presence could help stabilize the offense. His contract is friendly, his track record is strong, and his role would be determinable by the team.

If Brooklyn is looking to blow up the ship, New York should see what it can do to acquire Jack’s services.

Next: The Rumored Connection

Jan 14, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard

(7) dribbles the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard

(20) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Jennings, Detroit Pistons

Position: Point Guard

Age: 26

Salary: $8,344,497 (Expiring)

2014-15 Slash Line: .401/.360/.839

2014-15 Season Averages: 28.6 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 6.6 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.9 3PM

The Detroit Pistons have something of a logjam at point guard. Reggie Jackson is a borderline All-Star as a starter and Steve Blake is a solid backup whom Stan Van Gundy appears to covet for his tenacity and selflessness.

That could leave Brandon Jennings as the odd man out.

Jennings was in the midst of a career-year in 2014-15, more so from a leadership role than a statistical perspective. He led Detroit to 12 wins in the final 15 games he completed, but fell victim to an untimely Achilles tendon tear—an injury he’s close to returning from.

According to Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com, the Knicks have already been linked to Jennings as a potential trade destination.

"Jennings has yet to play this year as he recovers from a torn Achilles, however, his name is being floated around in connection with a couple of teams — most notably the New York Knicks."

It’d make sense to gamble on Jennings’ talent—maybe.

Jennings is on an expiring contract, which makes the risk of acquiring him an easier one to stomach. For as dynamic a playmaker as he may be—career averages of 16.6 points and 6.2 assists—he’d likely require New York to trade either Langston Galloway or Jerian Grant.

Moving forward, it’s worth noting that Van Gundy called Jennings, “No more or less available than anyone else,” on the roster, per Keith Langlois of NBA.com—a sign that the ball-dominant point guard may be tougher to acquire than he seems.

There’s no telling how Carmelo Anthony and Jennings would gel stylistically, but on paper, it’s a risky endeavor.

Next: The Enigma

Dec 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

(3) shoots the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Ty Lawson, Houston Rockets

Position: Point Guard

Age: 28

Salary: $12,404,495

Slash Line: .348/.310/.709

Season Averages: 25.2 MPG, 6.2 PPG, 4.2 APG, 1.9 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 3PM

Strictly talking ability, Ty Lawson is one of the best available players in the NBA. He’s explosively quick in the open court, is dynamic in running the pick-and-roll, and can put up numbers that rival the league’s elite.

Off-the-court issues and overwhelming 2015-16 inconsistency have hurt his reputation, but there’s no question that Lawson can play.

Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, the former Denver Nuggets star averaged 16.3 points and 9.2 assists in 35.7 minutes of action per game. That includes averages of 17.6 points per game in 2013-14 and 9.6 assists in 2014-15.

In the midst of a terribly slow start for the Houston Rockets, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that Daryl Morey is kicking the tires on potential trades revolving around the 28-year-old.

"In what increasingly has become a fruitless experiment, the Houston Rockets are engaging in trade scenarios to move guard Ty Lawson, league sources told Yahoo Sports."

If New York can pull something off at a reasonable asking price, it’d be wise to do so.

Lawson’s contract is big, but it’s incredibly friendly. He renounced his player option for 2016-17, which means the Knicks could conceivably let him walk if the experiment fails to pan out.

That’s an attractive possibility that New York should look into with no draft pick in 2015-16.

Next: The Marksman

Nov 27, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard

(23) dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Martin, Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 32

Salary: $7,085,000

Slash Line: .367/.378/.876

Season Averages: 25.0 MPG, 12.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 3PM

Yes, I know. Kevin Martin is a lackluster defender, to say the very least, which thus suggests that it’d spell trouble for him to operate alongside Jose Calderon in the New York Knicks’ backcourt.

Here’s the thing: if any team would be willing to take on Calderon’s contract, it’d likely be Minnesota.

Calderon and Martin make similar money, which opens the door financially. On Minnesota’s end, Calderon could be the missing mentor to help fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio develop his jump shot.

According to Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune, the Timberwolves are aware of Martin’s preference to be traded and are on the same page as the 32-year-old.

"Judging by comments made by Mitchell and Martin, Saturday’s decision could become routine until Martin is traded. He spoke briefly on the subject, saying “with respect to my teammates and the organization, we’re going to keep it in-house right now. Both sides know what each other wants. There will be a time to talk about it, but it’s just not now.” Mitchell said he and the team must look to the future."

In targeting Martin, New York would essentially commit to the tandem of Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant at point guard.

Arron Afflalo, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis are playing well offensively, but when one falters, the entire team suffers. Martin may not be the athlete that he once was, but he’s an accurate shooter who knows how to draw contact.

If nothing else, Martin’s ability to space the floor would be of immense value to the Knicks moving forward—and for a very affordable cost.

Next: The Free Agent

Dec 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tony Wroten (1) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Tony Wroten, Free Agent

Position: Guard

Age: 22

Slash Line: .338/.176/.541

Season Averages: 18.0 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.5 APG

Tony Wroten is a 22-year-old playmaker who averaged 16.9 points and 5.2 assists in 30 appearances for the 2014-15 Philadelphia 76ers. Thus, it took many by surprise when Philadelphia cut him on Christmas Eve.

With Wroten available to acquire as a free agent, the New York Knicks would be wise to at least explore the possibility of signing the 6’6″ combo guard.

For all of the upside he may possess, Wroten’s weak jump shot has been a point of contention throughout his career. Through 145 NBA games, he’s shooting 23.1 percent from 3-point range.

That’s an especially concerning sign considering he’s attempted 363 3-point field goals.

Next: Which available stars should the Knicks be targeting?

There’s no telling if Wroten would usurp Jose Calderon, Langston Galloway or Jerian Grant in the rotation. He’d be signed at a very low price, however, and that’s reason enough to give him a shot.

Best case scenario, Wroten works on his jump shot and becomes a matchup nightmare. Worst case, he’s cut.