New York Knicks: Trades that would facilitate the rebuild

The New York Knicks are drifting in the opposite direction of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. What can New York do at the trade deadline to improve the future?

With the 2018 NBA trade deadline on the horizon, the New York Knicks are stuck in basketball limbo. New York isn’t quite bad enough to be in line for top five lottery odds, but isn’t on pace to make the playoffs, either.

With confusion surrounding the long-term trajectory of the organization, and the trade deadline nearing, a concrete commitment must be made in the coming days.

On one end of the spectrum, many believe that the Knicks should invest in the current roster by adding the necessary talent to make a push for the postseason. It’s a belief that’s shared by franchise player Kristaps Porzingis, who publicly implored New York to do so.

On the other end of the debate, however, is a growing group of fans who believe the Knicks should continue to rebuild by prioritizing the long-term over the short-term.

New York is building around Porzingis, who’s 22 years of age and in his first career season as the go-to scoring option. There are a number of ways the Knicks can build towards sustainable success, but the working theory is that it should prioritize the future.

The question is: What trades could the New York Knicks realistically make to facilitate the long-term rebuild around Kristaps Porzingis?