NY Knicks: 3 reasons why the team should trade for T.J. Warren
By Max Hoover
Reason #2: T.J. Warren is on an expiring contract
Kelly Oubre Jr.’s agent is putting in work, and a lot of Knicks fans are buying into it.
There is a contingent of the fan base that would be willing to pay Oubre Jr. $15 million per year across 3-4 years.
If you are a Knicks fan who is buying that used car pitch, could I interest you in T.J. Warren instead?
You see, Warren will be 28 years old to start next season coming off surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, while someone like Oubre is only 25 and comes with a seemingly clean bill of health.
The difference is that Warren is a much better value buy. Warren is making only $12.7 million next season, the last season of his current contract.
From a business perspective, Warren is a much better fit.
He would be a real contributor to this team next season without clogging up the books long-term.
That’s compared to Oubre, Gary Trent Jr., and even Norman Powell who would all play a similar role.
If the Knicks want to add an experienced wing while maintaining cap flexibility for the 2022 offseason, Warren is absolutely the guy.
His salary being only $12.7 million (and with Knox going out in my framework) also still leaves the Knicks with plenty of cap space for this offseason as well.
On the flip side, let’s say things go south next season and the team’s record is not where Leon Rose and company want it to be. Warren is much more easily flippable on an expiring deal than the other names mentioned above would be with their multiple years remaining.
Warren either helps you win and walks for the cap space needed to sign a star or he becomes an integral part of the team with the ability to negotiate a new deal or he gets flipped for assets at the trade deadline.
It’s a win. It’s a win. It’s a win.