The New York Knicks are quietly putting together one of the best young cores in the NBA. But with some serious needs on this team, they may have to part ways with some of those pieces this offseason.
Many fans have expressed a desire for the team to move Julius Randle and with some expiring contracts to get rid of, it’s likely that at least one of the listed players won’t be in New York for the 2022-23 season.
If the Knicks want to make some immediate noise in the playoffs, a trade for a bigger name is certainly attainable, but there is also a possibility that New York will remain patient.
Given the spotlight on this team and the desire to finally become relevant again, it’s going to be hard for Leon Rose to decide exactly which path to go down, but with such promising young talent, either situation is a possibility.
It’s been quite some time since the Knicks have had such a wealth of talented young players who are full of such potential, so thinking about trading them isn’t the easiest thing to do.
Unfortunately, if New York finds a player they like, the front office may need to bite the bullet to make that happen.
If that is indeed the case, here is how untouchable (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most untouchable) each of the young (under 25) Knicks players should be in a trade.
How the New York Knicks should view trade scenarios for these 8 players
8. Deuce McBride – 4/10
Few people batted an eye when the Knicks drafted a young, undersized guard in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, but that didn’t last long because Deuce McBride began to wow everyone in the NBA world.
Sure, his big-time games only came in the G League, as he struggled to break the NBA roster despite New York needing a playmaker at the point guard spot. But he turned in a fantastic rookie year at that level, having several jaw-dropping stat lines throughout the campaign.
He still isn’t known beyond the Knicks’ fan base, and given his little time in the NBA, that’s understandable, but with shooting, passing and aggression like McBride offers, he could be a key contributor to any team in the league.
While New York needs McBride, the organization still doesn’t seem to believe in him, and even with a relatively unknown trade worth, he could be thrown into a trade to sweeten a deal.
The Knicks could potentially look to increase his worth by showcasing his skills at NBA Summer League in July, but given his lack of minutes, along with new draft picks and free agents coming in soon, it’s very unlikely that McBride will be in New York for the 2022-23 season.