Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Trading For Austin Rivers

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers have engaged in trade talks. What would the pros and cons be of New York acquiring Austin Rivers?

The New York Knicks are inching closer to the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline. As that fateful date nears, the possibility of Carmelo Anthony being traded appears to be as real and threatening as ever before.

Though the trade rumors have yet to come to fruition, there’s a growing belief that Anthony will be dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Anthony would be joining a Clippers team that includes Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul. In order to make that happen, however, the Clippers will have to navigate a complicated trade process.

According to Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN, the Knicks aren’t interested in Jamal Crawford’s contract and the Clippers don’t want to part ways with J.J. Redick.

"Sources said the Knicks ‎are reluctant to absorb the three years and $42 million left on Crawford’s contract after this season, which has led to the hunt for a third team that might be interested in Crawford. The Clippers, meanwhile, are hesitant to surrender the sharpshooting Redick even if they were at full strength in the backcourt, sources said."

If New York doesn’t want Crawford, and Los Angeles refuses to give up Redick, then Austin Rivers would be the only guard included in a trade package.

It should be noted that the trade wouldn’t simply be Anthony being dealt for Rivers straight up. Instead, it would include Rivers and would likely require a third team to get involved to improve the package being sent to New York.

The question is: what would the pros and cons be of the New York Knicks acquiring Austin Rivers from the Los Angeles Clippers?