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

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) prepares to shoot the ball between Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) and forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) prepares to shoot the ball between Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) and forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) celebrates after a dunk against the Charlotte Hornets with New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) celebrates after a dunk against the Charlotte Hornets with New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Pro: Fitting The Timeline

The New York Knicks have a pair of promising young big men in Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez. Beyond that duo, however, are a group of veterans who are expectedly focused more on winning than developing the stars of tomorrow.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but New York needs a guard who will receive a high number of minutes and develop along the same timeline as Porzingis and Hernangomez.

Hernangomez is 22 years of age, Porzingis in 21, and Rivers is still just 24 years of age in his fifth NBA season. Those ages line up well enough for the Knicks to have three legitimate building blocks to secure the future with.

Whether Rivers is a starter or the sixth man, he’s a young player with upside and a favorable contract under the rising salary cap.

Rivers is in the first season of a three-year deal worth $35,745,000. He’s due to make $11,825,000 in 2017-18 and has a player option worth $12,650,000 in 2018-19—two affordable numbers that would enable long-term financial flexibility.

Both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings could command a salary above $12 million per year, which makes landing Rivers on a multi-year deal an ideal scenario.

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