Exploring 2 different Knicks-Malcolm Brogdon offseason trades

Should the Knicks consider this Malcolm Brogdon trade?

This idea may get me a lot of love or a lot of hate from the fanbase with no in-between. For the record, this idea is only for those who can’t stand Randle on this team anymore…I am not of that bunch.

I think the first trade is far more realistic and would be my preferred option. But here goes nothing…

We could argue that a combo of Duarte and Haliburton paired with Randle would fit really well together. In fact, I think it would be a better fit than anything the Knicks could put together around Randle for the time being.

Especially with Barrett’s recent emergence as a bonafide star-in-the-making, maybe separating the two could help him flourish.

The idea behind this trade is basically ‘out with the old, in with the new’ for both teams in question. Both are currently Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers at the moment but have postseason aspirations.

Originally I wanted to do a straight-up Brogdon for Randle swap but I couldn’t justify that kind of deal for New York. I also couldn’t justify Indiana adding a first-rounder to the deal in exchange for Randle either so here we are.

This trade would allow the Knicks to move Toppin into the starting lineup and it would open up a rotation spot for both Grimes and Reddish, all while keeping the team competitive.

Now, this trade gets done assuming two things; Robinson doesn’t re-sign and the Knicks instead sign-and-trade him yet again. This time, Robinson is dealt for a late first-rounder from a center-needy team in the playoffs. Hence why I said, “Someone’s late first-round pick.”

New York would keep its own first this year while trotting out a lineup next season that would look like:

Brogdon, Fournier, Barrett, Toppin, Turner

Rose, Quickley, Grimes, Reddish, Sims

While I am a fan of finding consistent minutes for the young guns and officially making the Knicks Barrett’s team, this trade isn’t it for me. Hard pass.