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New York Knicks: Realistic goals for the 2018 NBA trade deadline

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 6: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 6, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 6: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 6, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Acquire An Athletic Big

Kristaps Porzingis is the best rim protector in the NBA and, by default, the best rim protector on the New York Knicks. Both fortunate and unfortunate, however, is the reality that he’s also the only player on the team who can consistently defend stretch bigs.

Thus, while having elite rebounders to alleviate pressure from the thin-framed Unicorn makes sense, stretching him too thin on defense is killing the Knicks.

Porzingis leads the NBA in blocks per game and is the only player holding opponents to lower than 50.0 percent shooting at the rim. Due to the fact that he’s also tasked with picking up stretch bigs, however, he’s often pulled away from the paint.

Enes Kanter is an outstanding rebounder and Kyle O’Quinn can redirect shots, but the best approach for New York would be to keep Porzingis closer to the basket.

Even when Porzingis doesn’t block a shot, he’s still a 7’3″ deterrent whom slashers aren’t exactly eager to drive on.  After he suffered a left knee injury against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Feb. 6, the need to keep him closer to the basket is stronger than ever.

By adding an athletic power forward or center to the roster, the Knicks could help Porzingis play the role that he’s naturally equipped to play.

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