NY Knicks: 3 Potential Eric Bledsoe trades at the deadline
By Max LoSardo
![NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 01: Eric Bledsoe #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Utah Jazz during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 01: Eric Bledsoe #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Utah Jazz during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/10beaa8f525eb1f5214f453aa7867566719ba0544ed7f97497c656a0d82723a1.jpg)
The NY Knicks add draft capital
A side effect of trading Bledsoe (and ball) for the Pelicans is finding more playing time for 22-year-old guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The cousin of Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Pelicans got a glimpse of what Alexander-Walker may look like in the starting five earlier in the season when Ball was out with an injury. In five games as a starter, he averaged 19.2 points, shooting 55.9% from the field and 43.8% from three.
The Pelicans would receive Elfrid Payton, who would serve well as a sixth man in New Orleans as Alexander-Walker became a starter. Payton played for the Pelicans in 2018-2019 where he averaged 10.6 points and shot a career-high 74% from the free-throw line. It would be interesting to see what the Knicks would do with an extra first-round pick. They could continue to stockpile picks and young players in order to trade for a true star, or they can continue development and try to not disrupt the team’s chemistry and momentum, which they’ve been thinking long and hard about.
Bledsoe would either take Payton’s starting role or play alongside Immanuel Quickly in leading the second unit (with Rose starting). Bledsoe can take a lot of the responsibilities that Thibodeau entrusts Elfrid Payton with – Rugged defense and additional playmaking. Either way, Bledsoe would be returning to his natural position of point guard and could make an impact as a secondary player for the NY Knicks.