Here’s why the New York Knicks shouldn’t consider this deal
First, let’s consider the fact that this trade could have been made about 6 months ago.
Back on July 30, 2021, the Utah Jazz had traded Favors in a salary dump, along with a 2024 first-round pick, to the Thunder in exchange for a 2027 2nd round pick and cash considerations.
In other words, the Thunder gave up very little to get Favors and Sam Presti added yet another FRP to his draft pick treasure trove.
The Knicks could have swung this deal with Utah rather than re-sign Nerlens Noel.
Noel is on a fine contract but has played sparingly and poorly this season.
Both Favors and the Jazz’s FRP would have been much more valuable to NY back then.
But, the past is the past. So why are Favors and the FRP in this trade scenario not that valuable to the Knicks today?
Well as for this draft pick, it originally belonged to the Phoenix Suns who currently have the league’s best record.
This means the 2022 pick will likely wind up being a late pick in the 25-30 range.
While that would by no means be a bad pick, dealing away Kevin Knox on his own would garner a similar return.
The Knicks should be pursuing the highest draft pick they can for Knox and the teams that should be interested in Knox are lottery teams willing to give him a meaningful rotation role.
If the Knicks trade Knox to the Detroit Pistons, for example, they will probably receive a 2nd-round pick.
Any lottery team’s SRP will be high in that round in the 31-40 range. This isn’t much less valuable than the Phoenix pick they would get in ESPN’s trade.
Yes, I said the Knicks need to try to obtain as high a pick as possible for Knox, but the difference between these hypothetical first and second-round picks isn’t so much that it makes putting Robinson in the deal worth it.
Speaking of him, we now need to discuss how Mitchell Robinson’s value plays a role.