Knicks potential trade candidates: Mario Hezonja

As the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline approaches, a look at if New York Knicks forward Mario Hezonja is a potential candidate to move.

Don’t look now, but the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline already takes place in just one month. It’s a little past the season’s halfway point, and a time the New York Knicks have stayed busy in previous years, including 2018.

Will anyone move in February 2019? That remains unknown, but it’s worth evaluating the potential players for this.

Trey Burke was one possibility. Mario Hezonja, given this season’s events, makes sense as a trade candidate before the deadline, as well.

Why is Hezonja a candidate?

Knicks general manager Scott Perry was part of the Orlando Magic front office that selected Hezonja in the 2015 NBA Draft — one spot behind Kristaps Porzingis. Three disappointing seasons and a declined team option later, Perry relinked with his former pick.

Hezonja always had the talent, but never able to put it all together. Unfortunately for him, that remained in New York.

In 32 games and 11 starts, the Croatian forward has shot just 38.3 percent from the field and 29.3 on three-pointers for 6.9 points. Some upside was shown in the season’s first three weeks, including nine, double-digit point games, but an underwhelming run as a starter followed and caused his demise.

Before Friday’s game, Hezonja had played just eight minutes since Dec. 19. The matchups inbetween were absences via coach’s decision.

Rotation-exiles have never stayed permanent under head coach David Fizdale, so Hezonja should receive another chance, but he has not played into a long-term future with the Knicks.

Predicting a trade package

Finding an ideal track package for Hezonja is difficult. His $6.5 million does not easily fit into anyone’s salary cap. That provides the one and only hurdle needed to stop a straight-up deal for a draft pick.

Instead, Hezonja’s salary makes more sense to acquire a player with a larger paycheck. He can join a trade package that brings over the Chicago Bulls’ Jabari Parker, who makes $20 million and was linked to the Knicks.

Hypothetically, Hezonja’s money can attach to Courtney Lee‘s $12.25 million and make a deal work for Parker. That means Chicago takes on Lee’s money through 2019-20, though, potentially meaning the Knicks have to also send an asset in any deal.

The only team that can absorb salary, the Sacramento Kings have $11 million available. A deal may not make much sense, given how well their young core looked in the first two-plus months, but they can easily assimilate Hezonja into the payroll for a future second-round pick.

Otherwise, the 23-year-old is a candidate to stay for the rest of the season, before hitting free agency. That’s the easiest route for the New York Knicks to take, rather than making a complicated transaction.