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New York Knicks: Trade options to monitor as season progresses

By Maxwell Ogden

PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 5: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball during the preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on October 5, 2017 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 5: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball during the preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on October 5, 2017 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 13: Emmanuel Mudiay #0 of the Denver Nuggets htb; against the Boston Celtics on December 13, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 13: Emmanuel Mudiay #0 of the Denver Nuggets htb; against the Boston Celtics on December 13, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets

Position: Point Guard
Age: 21 (3/5/1996)
Experience: 3rd Season
2017-18 Slash Line: .392/.390/.794
2017-18 Season Averages: 21.1 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 3.2 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 3PM

The New York Knicks have a young point guard with a developing offensive game in Frank Ntilikina. Thus, it stands to reason that trading for another player who’s cut from that same cloth would create a relatively redundant backcourt combination.

Due to Jeff Hornacek’s history of utilizing dual point guard sets, however, it may be worth exploring the possibility of pairing Ntilikina with current Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

Denver seems to have committed to Jamal Murray as its point guard of the future. While Mudiay still has a solid role in the rotation, Murray is averaging 27.5 minutes per game on the season—a number that’s increased with every passing month thus far.

If the Nuggets are willing to play the trade game with Mudiay, the Knicks could build a Phoenix Suns style backcourt for Hornacek to work with.

While Ntilikina is the defensive-minded facilitator, Mudiay is the athletic slasher who’s beginning to find his range as a shooter. Thus far in 2017-18, the career 32.9 percent three-point shooter is averaging 1.1 three-point field goals made on 39.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

A 6’5″ and 200-pound point guard with a seemingly strong work ethic, Mudiay is a player whose availability should at least be tested.

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