Knicks potential trade candidates: Noah Vonleh
As the New York Knicks approach the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, a look at if Noah Vonleh is a potential candidate to move.
At 10-32, the New York Knicks sit far out of the postseason picture. It makes them a potential candidate to move players at the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, which they were active at in 2018 with trading Willy Hernangomez and Doug McDermott.
Ahead of this year’s deadline, Enes Kanter, so far, was the only name rumored. However, that does not mean the moves will stop there.
Trey Burke and Mario Hezonja were already looked at as candidates, but what about Noah Vonleh? The Knicks signed him to a partially-guaranteed contract last season, and the former Indiana big man has outplayed original expectations.
Why is Vonleh a candidate?
Amid the Knicks struggles, Vonleh has established himself as one of the few bright spots. As previously described by head coach David Fizdale, the fifth-year man is their “most complete” player. Who expected that before the season started?
David Fizdale said Noah Vonleh might be the #Knicks' "most complete player." "He’s starting to make his threes, he brings the ball up for us, he guards 1 through 5, he blocks shots at the rim, runs the floor." Vonleh's had double-doubles in the last two games.
— Chris Iseman (@ChrisIseman) November 23, 2018
Vonleh may not start on some playoff contenders, but he provides the defense teams desire and is the latest big man with a proven ability to shoot from distance. Granted, almost every NBA player has chosen to try three-pointers, but the 23-year-old’s development has taken shape positively, and he does not take too many of them (2.1 per game).
If anything, this makes Vonleh an intriguing role player for a contender’s bench, potentially the Philadelphia 76ers who were speculated as a landing spot by Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
What can the Knicks receive in return?
Trying to find a first-round pick for Vonleh may not be impossible. Deveney’s same piece also included teams willingly offering first-round picks in trades, featuring the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and one of Vonleh’s former teams, the Portland Trail Blazers. The former two have windows, whether to win while Jimmy Butler is around or to satisfy Anthony Davis.
Given the $1.67 million salary owed, it should not take much to fit into anyone’s payroll, leaving not just those three teams, but any contender with roster space as a candidate.
The Sixers may be desperate to add another piece, but would the Knicks trade within proximity to home? Portland needs backcourt depth.
That leaves the Pelicans, who are in the same desperate position as last season, except with a losing record, rather than DeMarcus Cousins suffering a torn Achilles. Although, given their current spot in the lottery, it makes sense for a first-round pick to be heavily protected.
If that’s deemed too much, maybe the Knicks take home two second-round picks. They received the same for Hernangomez, but he had two more years of team control when the deal happened.
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Vonleh makes for an intriguing trade candidate ahead of the deadline. Whether the New York Knicks turn him into an asset remains to be seen, but instead of losing him in free agency for nothing, on a lucrative multi-year deal, they can opt to build towards the future while preserving cap space in 2019 and beyond.