NY Knicks: Reacting to a potential trade with The OKC Thunder

My fellow NY Knicks fan and colleague here at Daily Knicks, Mark Nilon, is also the Site Expert with Thunderous Intentions, which is the fansite for the Oklahoma City Thunder here with FanSided.

Recently, he proposed a trade between the Thunder and the Knicks and I wanted to share my point of view on the deal.

Should the NY Knicks make this trade with the Thunder?

Here is the trade that Mark proposed:

My initial reaction was “Not a chance, bub.”

Maybe I’m biased. Maybe I am overvaluing both Knox and the Detroit 2nd round pick.

In fairness, I have traded for George Hill before, as I think for a ‘win now’ Knicks team, he’d be a fantastic fit.

But not for that trade.

The Thunder have little to no leverage in the matter as they only brought George Hill onto the team to match salaries as a result of the Jrue Holiday trade with the Bucks.

He was brought on to eventually dump his salary on a contender in exchange for some draft capital.

To get back Kevin Knox who’s still got 1 year left on his rookie contract, a very high 2nd round pick in a loaded draft, AND another future 2nd? Not a chance, bub.

Here’s a trade I would consider:

I’m keeping that Detroit second-round pick if I’m Leon Rose.

He has Walt Perrin at his disposal now. For anyone who isn’t familiar, he basically built the currently 1st place Utah Jazz roster via the draft with late firsts and 2nd round picks.

If the Knicks are absorbing George Hill’s $9.5 million contract next year, the Thunder aren’t getting their hands on what could be a very valuable trade chip or draft pick in the upcoming draft.

Additionally, the Knicks get Trevor Ariza back in orange and blue, someone who they should have never let go of when they did, to begin with.

Hill and Ariza are good pieces to add to a ‘win now’ roster and would definitely help elevate the Knicks’ come playoff time.

Ariza has yet to suit up for the Thunder, so taking him on would basically just be a throw-in on the deal.

In conclusion, even with the second trade being much better for the Knicks than the first one, I’m still not doing it unless the absolute last trade left on the table.

Kevin Knox, an expiring Reggie Bullock contract, and that future 2nd rounder could all be used to acquire a much more valuable piece or pieces come the March 25th deadline.