New York Knicks: NBA trade deadline winners and losers
Who are the winners and losers from the New York Knicks after the trade deadline?
With the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline passed, the New York Knicks have two months to play through before the intriguing offseason, with a probably-high draft pick and cap space galore in free agency. That’s with fresh faces on the roster after their blockbuster Kristaps Porzingis trade.
This deal brought three players to the squad. Only two of them remain, but their impact should be enough to change the situations for some players already in the blue and orange.
There’s also the transactions that didn’t happen Thursday. Some of them proved positive for incumbent players.
So, with trades completed for the 2018-19 season, who are the winners and losers of the deadline for the Knicks?
Winner: Frank Ntilikina
Earlier this season, Frank Ntilikina seemed like a player on the downfall. That argument can still be made now, as he struggled to shoot the basketball and never showed true point guard skills in his second NBA season. Head coach David Fizdale tried him elsewhere, but nothing has stuck, yet.
Ntilikina was part of trade rumors in November and December, but nothing, of course, materialized. Fast-forward to Thursday, and the Knicks were approached by the Orlando Magic, per ESPN’s Ian Begley, but rebuffed their advances.
Orlando expressed interest in Frank Ntilikina prior to the trade deadline but was told that New York was not trading the second-year guard, per league sources.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 7, 2019
The Magic traded two draft picks and Jonathon Simmons to the Philadelphia 76ers for Markelle Fultz, to fill their point guard spot.
That should be a vote of confidence, for now, on Ntilikina. Sure, the front office can wait to make a deal and let him increase his value on the court, but the willingness to at least wait it out and see what the 20 year old does is promising. Plus, at 10-43, there’s no reason for the Knicks to rush anything in 2018-19.
Ntilikina probably won’t start at point guard with Dennis Smith Jr. around, but this is the true chance to shuffle the former around the rotation and see where he fits. If nothing fits, the Knicks can re-evaluate his status this summer. He’s in a good position, though, nonetheless.