The next month or so is going to be absolutely bananas with all the New York Knicks trade rumors.
In a recent article, SNY’s NBA Insider Ian Begley explored 3 potential under-the-radar Knicks trade targets ahead of the March 25th NBA trade deadline.
The idea of trading for Bradley Beal, Victor Oladipo, or Zach LaVine sounds good in theory, but in all actuality, trading for any of those players would set the Knicks’ rebuild back a few years if not more if the deals don’t pan out as expected. Everything the Knicks have gone through and sacrificed in order to get to the point that they’re at today would be all for naught, as all of these trades would likely require at least one 1st round selection in return, with LaVine’s and Beal’s trades likely requiring a King’s ransom to get done.
The current Knicks roster is far from a finished product, we all know this. If the roster the Knicks are sporting today is the same exact roster we (hopefully) enter the playoffs within a few months, I would be shocked.
Should the Knicks trade for any of the stars that are likely on the trading block?
With that being said, as a Knicks fanatic, I could not be more excited for what’s to come in the next 30 days or so. It’s been so, so long since the Knicks were actually “buyers” at the deadline as opposed to selling off whatever value they have on the roster as if they’re the NBA’s yard sale. I’m also excited to be a part of the “buy-out” market for once, as opposed to the Knicks having to buy-out a player’s contract for him to go contribute on a playoff-bound team.
Here we’ll be reviewing the 3 trade targets that Ian Begley believes are better fits for the Knicks’ current situation.
Terry Rozier is lighting it up in Charlotte, should he be on the Knicks’ radar in March?
I was on team “Wow, Terry Rozier is playing really well in the playoffs in place of Kyrie Irving, so now I want him on the Knicks” back when “Scary Terry” was lighting it up for the Celtics.
Since then, there have been several trade rumors relating to trades between Charlotte and New York swapping Rozier for Julius Randle (could anyone imagine how awful they would be feeling right now if that happened???).
While Rozier is having a bit of a breakout season himself, there’s no comparison to what Julius Randle has been doing for the last 2 months. Rozier would fit a need for the Knicks at the point guard but since we wouldn’t be trading Randle for him any longer, I’m not sure what the cost would be to bring him to New York.
I would only consider the deal if two requirements were met — the trade must not include any of our first-round picks and it MUST include Elfrid Payton as to not muddy-up the Knicks’ point guard situation any further than it is now. If both of the two stipulations are not met, no dice, bucko!
The Knicks already traded for a score-first guard in Derrick Rose, and while Rozier is obviously the superior player of the two, I think the Knicks need more of a facilitator in the starting lineup that can hit spot-up threes more so than a slashing guard such as Terry Rozier.
The New York Knicks and Lonzo Ball would be a match made in heaven
#ZO2NY
We missed out on one Ball brother in the 2020 draft, we need the other one in NYC ASAP and I don’t mean LiAngelo.
As long a the asking price isn’t ridiculous, I would much rather bring Lonzo Ball to the Knicks during this season as opposed to waiting until free agency. It’s been rumored that the Pelicans’ VP of Basketball Operations, David Griffin would want a big return in a Lonzo Ball trade, therefore I don’t see the Knicks making this move.
I’ve personally explored the idea of bringing #ZO2NY in a previous article, and I don’t see many better fits for what the Knicks are currently lacking in their backcourt.
While I am aware the Knicks could just wait until the summer and sign Lonzo if they love him that much instead of trading away valuable pieces to get him now, bringing Ball into the organization and letting him see for himself from the side what being a Knick is all about, it could possibly sway him to take a little bit of a sweetheart deal in order to become a long-term piece to New York’s inevitable championship aspirations (I cannot believe I just typed that with a straight face).
Lonzo Ball in New York City just makes too much sense for so many reasons.
@LeonRose…….Make it happen, cap’n.
The Knicks’ entire offensive complexion would do a 180 if they were to bring Buddy Hield to MSG
Similar to Lonzo Ball, I’ve explored trades for Buddy Hield more times than I can count on both hands.
After a brief period of time when the world thought that the Sacramento Kings were a legitimate playoff contender just a few weeks ago, they’ve fallen back down to earth and currently sit at a 12-16 record which is good enough for 12th place in the Western Conference standings.
I’ve been shouting from the rooftops that the Kings should sell off all their older, valuable assets for draft capital since last season. The only players they should keep on the whole team are De’Aaron Fox and former Knicks’ 2020 draft target, Tyrese Haliburton.
I’d be willing to move Dallas’ 2023 1st, a young player like Knox or Frank, and maybe Reggie Bullock in a deal for Buddy. I think that’s a trade that works well for both parties.
A move for Hield would move RJ Barrett over to the small forward position, which shouldn’t prove to be much of an issue as RJ has improved substantially on defense, so guarding larger players would not be of concern.
In turn, Buddy Hield would bring a prolific scorer and career 41% 3-point shooter to The Garden.
Hield is current on a front-loaded contract where the annual salary actually decreases as the years progress. The highest salaried year was this season at approximately $24 million and the following seasons he’d be making $22 million, $20 million, and finally $18 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024. This would greatly help the Knicks continue to build around RJ, Hield, and Randle moving forward.
Thumbs up for a Hield trade!