Knicks Trade Rumors: Kings discussing Enes Kanter for Zach Randolph

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings have discussed an exchange of Enes Kanter for Zach Randolph.

As reported by Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic (subscription required), the New York Knicks received inquiries on Enes Kanter, who publicly expressed displeasure with his playing situation. No interested teams were listed.

Well, that changed Wednesday, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported, the Sacramento Kings discussed a Kanter deal, with Zach Randolph back to the Knicks in a potential transaction.

Wojnarowski added that nothing was close, but the Kings have more expiring deals they want to move, with speculation of a third team entering the mix.

The Kings make sense for Kanter, as they have $11 million in cap space and an abundance of expiring contracts. Randolph is just one of them, but he’s the highest salary in Sacramento, at $11.69 million.

Unlike Kanter’s backseat for younger players while still receiving on-court time, and despite the team-high salary, Randolph has yet to suit up this season for the Kings. Willie Cauley-Stein, Nemanja Bjelica and Marvin Bagley III have received most of the frontcourt’s playing time.

In New York, where Randolph played from 2007-08, he may not have a role, either, due to their own youth movement of Luke Kornet, Mitchell Robinson and Noah Vonleh. To avoid this, the Knicks can attempt a buyout or waive the 37-year-old’s contract.

If the Kings want to trade more expiring contracts, however, it should help the Knicks’ case to make a deal. Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. have salaries that carry through at least 2019-20, but with the probable need to attach an asset to any move that involves either player.

This sheds cap space towards the interesting free-agent class this summer, which features Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and others, although it may not be an all-in offseason, after all.

If the Knicks decide to include those contracts, though, they can receive another former Knick, Iman Shumpert, who’s on an expiring $11 million. Kosta Koufos‘ $8.73 million will also leave the books once the season ends.

There are options to make a deal work, whether or not it goes beyond Kanter for Randolph. If it’s just those two players, given how one of them has a role and the other does not, can the Knicks also receive a future draft selection? Even if just a second-rounder; per RealGM, they will accumulate at least two of these from other teams over the next three drafts.

While no deal is close, it’s an intriguing development as the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline nears. Kanter might not last at Madison Square for long, and it seems the New York Knicks have an interested party.