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New York Knicks: Designing an ideal Jabari Parker trade

By Maxwell Ogden

Milwaukee, WI - JANUARY 6: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the New York Knicks during the game on January 6, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - JANUARY 6: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the New York Knicks during the game on January 6, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MAY 09: Ryan Anderson #3 of the Houston Rockets takes a shot against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at AT&T Center on May 9, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MAY 09: Ryan Anderson #3 of the Houston Rockets takes a shot against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at AT&T Center on May 9, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

The Trade: Houston And Milwaukee

The harsh reality here is that the New York Knicks would need to take on a bad contract in order to receive Jabari Parker. That bad contract will likely belong to Ryan Anderson, whose contract the Milwaukee Bucks have limited interest in acquiring.

Daunting a possibility as that may be, it’s fair to ponder if it would be worth it for New York to do so, as Parker is one of the more promising young forwards in the NBA.

Houston Receives: Carmelo Anthony, F
Milwaukee Receives: Trevor Ariza, F; 2019 First-Round Draft Pick (via Knicks)
New York Receives: Ryan Anderson, PF; Jabari Parker, F; 2020 First-Round Draft Pick (via Rockets)

Houston would get Carmelo Anthony, which would come at the cost of revered two-way forward Trevor Ariza. It signed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker, however, which would help it absorb some of the damage on defense.

With a starting lineup of Chris Paul, James Harden, Mbah a Moute or Tucker, Anthony, and Clint Capela, as well as a bench that’s led by Eric Gordon, Houston would have a significant amount of talent.

Milwaukee would get one of the better two-way forwards in the NBA in Ariza. Parker may be younger and with a higher ceiling, but Ariza is a respected veteran who would alleviate a significant amount of pressure from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With a starting lineup of Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Ariza, and Thon Maker, the Bucks would have size and versatility at every position.

Greg Monroe and John Henson are also options to start at the 5, with Tony Snell and Mirza Teletovic providing depth and shooting.

The Knicks would be gambling on Parker’s health, as well as his ability to play small forward after two severe knee injuries. He may prove to be better off at power forward—sound familiar?—but this is a gamble on the future of the organization.

The Knicks would have a compelling cast of 25-and-under players to build around in Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Parker, Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez.

Contracts aside, a bench of Ryan Anderson, Ron Baker, Michael Beasley, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, and Lance Thomas would be undeniably solid.

The question is: Would it be worth including a 2019 first-round draft pick to gamble on Parker?

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