New York Knicks: 3 levels of trades involving Austin Rivers

This Magic and Knicks swap including Austin Rivers is a bit of a doozy.

I know what some of you are thinking…The Magic would NEVER do this trade. You might be right, but just hear me out.

The Magic stink. They have not gotten any better in years. It’s time to fire Steve Clifford and blow it up and get a coach more focused on developing the younger guys and rebuilding.

They have a lot of guys that contenders could want, like Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, the aforementioned Frenchman Evan Fournier, and sharpshooting Terrence Ross.

Absorbing Ross’s $13.5 million contract would be a lot easier for the Knicks to accomplish than most other teams. He is on a front-loaded deal where the annual salary drops a bit each season over the next 2 years which would help the Knicks during free agency time.

Evan Fournier on the other hand is on an expiring deal and similar to Otto Porter Jr, he can leave in the summer and the Magic get nothing.

The Magic have been reluctant to extend Fournier, so getting a few young pieces in his place in Frank Ntilikina (whom the Magic have previously shown interest in) and Kevin Knox could help in their inevitable rebuild.

Additionally, Reggie Bullock is on an expiring contract and the Magic could choose to keep him around on a relatively cheap deal as a veteran presence off the bench or choose to let him walk.

Nobody knows if Markelle Fultz is going to come back at 110% from his early-season ACL tear, so having a veteran off the bench for the rest of this season and next in Austin Rivers will greatly help Cole Anthony grow as an NBA player.

Rivers is also a massive upgrade over Michael Carter-Williams in my opinion.

I only do this deal if it’s a sign and trade for Fournier on a contract that doesn’t inhibit the Knicks from having flexibility moving forward or he comes the New York with an under-the-table handshake deal in place where he agrees to sign for something not ridiculous.