An Unexpected Trade Target Has Emerged For The Knicks
The New York Knicks are in the midst of another losing season, and with the trade deadline two weeks away the team looks to be sellers. Marcus Morris is the teams biggest trade piece, and there’s one contender who could look to acquire the veteran.
With the trade deadline official two weeks away, rumors will begin to take over the headlines. The New York Knicks currently sit at a not inspiring 12-32 and the Big Apple is filled with players that teams have been calling about. With New York heading towards the lottery instead of the playoffs, the front office will look to cash out on these assets.
Ideally, the team won’t just sell to the highest bidder but will seek the best value for these players. In return for their assets the Knicks should look for a player who can help improve the culture of the team and win in the future. There is one veteran under a team friendly contract who fits this bill perfectly.
The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be content at the trade deadline. Eric Bledsoe could soon find himself out of Milwaukee.
According to NBA Insider Gery Woelfel, Mike Budenholzer is “more comfortable” with George Hill running the offense and Donte DiVincenzo as his running mate. Woelfels’ report is backed up by the fact that Bledsoe has played three minutes less than last season, while DiVincenzo has seen 7.5 more minutes a night from his rookie season.
For New York, Bledsoe offers stability at point guard that team hasn’t seen in years. Last season Bledsoe was on the All-Defensive First Team, and his per 36 minutes this season show he’s still at the top of his game. Per 36 minutes this season the veteran is averaging 20.5 points, 7 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Bledsoe’s 4 year 70 million dollar contract is considered one of the more team friendly deals on the market, giving the Knicks control over the point guard for the next few seasons at a reasonable price. For New York, Bledsoe could be used as a tool to recruit Giannis Antetokounmpo in the summer of 2021.
Marcus Morris is a significant upgrade over any of the Buck’s current backup small forwards and power forwards, and his 45.7% from deep fits perfectly alongside Giannis. Morris would give the Bucks the NBA’s two best three point shooters in the league, as only George Hill has shot better from long range this season.
Woelfel also reported that last season the Bucks nearly flipped Bledsoe to the Dallas Mavericks for Dennis Smith Jr. Milwaukee has shown its interest in Smith before and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe the team still has value for him. The money lines up perfectly for both teams, and with Bucks pick expected to be at the tail end of the first round the team won’t have a problem parting with it.
The Bucks improve their championship odds by swapping out a veteran guard who has fallen out of favor with Head Coach Budenholzer in exchange for a lights out shooter in Marcus Morris.