Knicks Rumors: Designing an ideal trade for Mike Budenholzer

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks coaches against the Sacramento Kings on February 10, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 09: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Indiana Pacers in the first half of a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 112-87. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Trade

The New York Knicks shouldn’t give up a first-round draft pick for Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer is one of the best coaches in the NBA, but the Knicks traded their first-round draft picks in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.

That even-year trend must end, which makes the following trade offer about as fair of compensation as the Hawks are going to receive.

Some might compare this situation to when the Boston Celtics traded Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers. The differences were vast, however, including the fact that the Clippers were coming off of a 56-win season and chose to invest in an NBA champion head coach.

New York, meanwhile, is a rebuilding franchise that needs its draft picks, which makes this trade about as generous an offer as the Hawks should receive.

Another comparison is to when the Orlando Magic acquired Stan Van Gundy from the Miami Heat. Orlando, which made the playoffs and had a coach back out of his hiring mere weeks beforehand, gave Miami a pair of second-round draft picks and the right to swap future first-round selections.

Due to the fact that Kristaps Porzingis could miss the entire 2018-19 season, however, the Knicks simply can’t afford to run that risk.

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