NY Knicks: The 3 Best trade offers for Victor Oladipo

NY Knicks: Oladipo has friends in New York

We finally get to the NY Knicks’ offer. New York, just like Miami feels they are the front runners to sign Oladipo in the offseason. While Miami is a glamourous market with great weather and no state income taxes; the Heat doesn’t have the same connection points with Oladipo as the Knicks do.

The more I review the potential trade possibilities the more I am convinced that Victor Olapido will land in New York. In the NBA relationships matter, and Olapido has some deep ones in the Knicks’ front office. GM Scott was the assistant GM in Orlando when the team drafted him. Leon Rose was his agent before becoming President of Basketball Operations.

It’s no coincidence that two of Scott Perry’s former Orlando 1st round draft picks have played for the Knicks, Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton. Acquiring Olapido is Perry’s best shot at saving his job. The Knicks wouldn’t let Perry go before Victor Oladipo resigns with them. Who knows, maybe Oladipo flexes his power to ensure he keeps an ally in the front office.

As for Rose, getting a former star client to come to New York in his first year on the job would validate his hiring. The little criticism he does get from the New York media would dissipate. It would also set the Knicks up nicely to build a contender as they would now have two all-star caliber players in Olapido and Randle. They also have another budding one in Barrett and a promising young player in Quickley.

Just like the Fournier situation, it benefits the Knicks that Olapido is on an expiring contract and on a team that is not a contender. He has the leverage to push for a trade to New York as they have the cap space to sign him as a free agent. If your Houston, it’s better to get something for him now than let him walk away for nothing, especially since he was part of the James Harden trade. Below is what a trade for Victor Olapido might look like.

The Knicks are forced to include either Frank Ntilikina or Kevin Knox in the trade for salary matching purposes. Since Knox is younger, still under contract, plays in the frontcourt, and has the Kentucky connection. I think the Knicks choose to keep him. They also include Iggy Brazdeikis, who is a 2nd year forward that hasn’t been able to get on the floor. He was projected to be a 1st round pick, so when he slipped to the 2nd round, Scott Perry spent $1M to trade up to draft him.

In this trade, Houston gets two young players to try out this season instead of just the one Miami is offering. They also get a 2nd round pick in the most desirable draft, 2023(double draft), better than the late 2nd round pick Miami is offering in 2022. Then New York includes a protected 2024 1sr round pick (top 10 protected), one year sooner than what Miami can offer, so more valuable. The Knicks can include a pick swap if Houston insists. The key is that New York has two 1st round picks and three 2nd round picks in the 2023 draft, so they can afford to part with picks in 2023 and 2024 to secure Oladipo.

While I don’t like the compensation necessary to secure a player the NY Knicks can sign for free, it feels like the Carmelo Anthony trade all over again. I can understand why Leon Rose would be hesitant to let Oladipo meet alone with Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade, and the Heat in the offseason. It’s better to be safe than sorry.