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New York Knicks: 2 Elfrid Payton trades to contenders

By Brad Dressler

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 03: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks is defended by Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at United Center on February 03, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Knicks defeated the Bulls 107-103. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 03: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks is defended by Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls during a game at United Center on February 03, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Knicks defeated the Bulls 107-103. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks trades
Romeo Langford (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

NY Knicks trades for Elfrid Payton: Getting Romeo Langford from the Celtics

To piggy-back off of a trade proposed by my colleague Andrew Hughes at Hardwood Houdini, a sister site of The Daily Knicks, a trade involving Romeo Langford and draft capital in exchange for an Elfird Payton rental would be a trade I would be very intrigued by.

The Knicks have put much emphasis on developing their young players and Langford being a former lottery pick could be a great reclamation project for the Knicks. I think working with Langford behind the scenes while he recovers from offseason wrist surgery could prove fruitful as Langford was once viewed as one of the top prospects coming into the 2019 NBA Draft.

While acquiring Langford would be a nice low-risk, high-reward acquisition, getting two 2nd round picks would be the real prize of the trade. With scouting gurus Alex Kline and Walt Perrin at the helm, flipping some of our 2nd rounders could pay huge dividends as proven by the Knicks finding a diamond in the rough in Immanuel Quickley in this past draft at pick #25. The 2021 drat is viewed by many as a deep, talent-laden class, and the Knicks brass should easily be able to replicate the same luck they had in the 2020 draft with a stockpile of 1st and 2nd round picks at our disposal.

This trade replaces the 2nd round pick the Knicks just lost in the Rose trade, adds another 2nd in the 2022 draft where New York only has their own picks to use, and frees up a ton of minutes for Rose and Quickley to share time at the point guard spot.

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