New York Knicks: Five predictions for second half of 2018-19
3. Enes Kanter and Trey Burke will move at trade deadline
Out of the mix, it makes the New York Knicks potential contenders to move players before the Feb. 7 NBA Trade Deadline. They have pieces that can work more productively elsewhere, on veteran-laden teams, rather than the slow, youthful approach the Knicks have taken.
Enes Kanter already sits at the forefront of Knicks trades. He voiced unhappiness with his role and the team included him in talks with the Sacramento Kings, with Zach Randolph as the return piece, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
New York and Sacramento discussing an Enes Kanter-Zach Randolph trade of expiring contracts, but nothing close yet, league sources tell ESPN. Kings would want to send out more expirings in a deal. A third team could be helpful.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2019
The Knicks have every reason to make a Kanter deal happen. It removes a player that’s dissatisfied with his role, stands to lose more playing time when Mitchell Robinson returns, will not be part of a winning team in 2018-19 and likely has no future in New York beyond April.
Although the Kings make the most sense, by far, for potential Kanter suitors, due to their expiring contracts and salary cap space.
Outside of Kanter, there’s Trey Burke. Formerly the starting point guard, he fell behind Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina in the rotation.
At nearly $1.8 million, Burke makes a small enough salary to fit into another team’s payroll without much trouble. The price may be minor, as in a second-round pick, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. So, if it’s not the Michigan product, maybe it’s Mario Hezonja that heads elsewhere, given his expiring contract and questionable future in New York.
These players are logical choices to move at the deadline. Whether the Knicks find a suitable deal remains to be seen.