NY Knicks: 4 potential trades with The Orlando Magic

NY Knicks Trade: Knicks add more “Thibs Players”, assets

It’s been hard to see a once promising 8th overall pick rotting away on the bench. Maybe the Kevin Knox hype was premature, but seeing a player light up the Summer League, win an NBA Rookie of The Month, and make the Rising Stars game only to become an afterthought on the bench is an unusual NBA trajectory. The Knicks certainly deserve some blame for not developing him properly, but maybe its time to cut ties with the 21-year-old Knox.

Knox has shown some flashes of improvement on defense, and he’s certainly looked like a potentially great shooter in the league. He’s also had some abysmal performances that have kept his playing time sporadic at best. The Magic could still see the potential in Knox that had him drafted 8th overall and decide to see what they can get out of him on his remaining 2 years.

While the Magic get to add a potential steal a low cost, the Knicks acquire a solid 25 year old role player in Dwayne Bacon while collecting another 2nd round pick. Bacon is a former 2nd round pick who has finally found significant minutes – He’s currently averaging 25.2 minutes per game for the Magic. He’s a 6’7 wing/combo guard with a lot of strength. He’s a capable shooter, and you wonder that if he was to join the Knicks and settle into a smaller role, you might see some of his efficiency numbers go up.

Bacon can provide some rugged defense that Knox cannot, so while the NY Knicks would be giving up on Knox’s potential, they’d be acquiring someone who could give them solid minutes at the wing, an area where they’r lacking in depth.

The Magic are betting on the ceiling of Knox, while the Knicks are accepting the solid floor of Bacon. It’s an under-the-radar move that I think would benefit the Knicks – Bacon is signed through 2021-2022. The new front office has been shrewd in their asset management and roster construction, and it could continue with this move.