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Knicks Trade Rumors: Latest buzz from around the NBA as of Dec. 27

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 13, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 13, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 20: Nikola Mirotic #44 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on December 20, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 20: Nikola Mirotic #44 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on December 20, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

How It Impacts The Knicks

The New York Knicks may not be looking for another big man, but Nikola Mirotic is a player who fits both the timeline and the structure of the roster. Coupled with a team-friendly contract that includes a club option, adding him to the mix could yield safe and solid results.

Completing a trade for Mirotic may be an unlikely proposition, but the value and fit is undeniable in this instance—and that’s at least worth looking into.

Mirotic is a sharpshooting power forward who’s beginning to come into his own in the NBA. He struggled to knock down the outside shot in 2016-17, but averaged 2.0 three-point field goals made per game on 39.0 percent shooting from distance in 2015-16.

Thus far in 2016-17, Mirotic is averaging 2.5 three-point field goals made per game on 47.5 percent shooting—perhaps unsustainable, but not terribly far from his capabilities.

By playing Mirotic alongside Porzingis, the Knicks would build a frontcourt with two sharpshooting bigs. That balance of competent post play and lethal shooting would keep opposing defenses on their heels as they attempt to defend two mountains of three-point proficiency.

It’s an unlikely trade, but if the Knicks could create a reasonable trade package, it would at least be worth looking into.

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