The 2023 NBA trade deadline is still over two months away, but it’s a date that’s been on the radar for the New York Knicks. After missing out on Donovan Mitchell, the Knicks will remain in their mediocre state unless changes are made.
As expected, New York currently sits in the play-in range of the Eastern Conference. However, Miami’s off to an unexpected rough start and will likely start clicking as the year goes on, at least enough to pass the Knicks in the standings. The 2022-23 regular season could end with New York not having a good enough record to qualify for the play-in tournament for the second-straight year.
The Knicks still have their stockpile of draft picks to use for a star, and there could be a disgruntled star that becomes available ahead of the deadline. If that doesn’t happen, New York should be sellers in order to part ways with a couple of veterans that could be valuable to playoff-level teams. Based on that, here are three trade deadline predictions.
3 early trade predictions for the Knicks ahead of the 2023 deadline
3: Derrick Rose will be traded to a contender
Derrick Rose being dealt to a contender is the most predictable move that the Knicks could make before the deadline. He’s averaging only 6.7 points per game in 13.7 minutes. Rose played in 26 games last season due to a nagging ankle injury, but he entered 2022-23 fully healthy.
New York’s logjam at the guard position is the reason for D-Rose’s low minutes. Considering that the Knicks have younger players like Immanuel Quickley that deserve minutes, keeping Rose isn’t a priority, which is why he’s been made available in trade talks.
Rose is making $14.5 million this season and has a $15.6 million club option in 2023-24. For a team that’s expected to make a deep playoff run, he would be a scoring threat off the bench. It was a little over a year ago when he helped to propel the Knicks to the playoffs, but now, New York has Jalen Brunson.
After spending two separate stints in NYC, the Derrick Rose-Knicks era appears to be coming to a close.
2: Knicks will find a way to get rid of Evan Fournier
Evan Fournier hasn’t played in over two weeks, yet trading him will be more challenging than trading Rose.
Fournier could be a source of three-point shooting for a playoff team, but his inconsistencies on the offensive end are part of the reason why he’s been forced out of New York’s rotation. On top of that, he’s a non-factor on the defensive end. Then, there’s his contract. He’s making $18 million this season and will make $18.9 million in 2023-24 before having a $19 million option in 2024-25.
All of the above reasons are why trading Fournier will be difficult for the Knicks, but even then, it’s hard to see him remaining on the roster past the February deadline.
Reportedly, New York isn’t willing to attach a first-round pick to Fournier in a trade, but that may be what ends up happening. Or if there’s a team that’s desperate enough, the Knicks could get by with keeping their draft stock while still managing to move on from Fournier and his contract. That’d be something worth celebrating.
1: Julius Randle will be traded
This prediction is No. 1 for obvious reasons, but remember, it’s just a prediction. It isn’t because Julius Randle has been playing poorly and the Knicks need to move on from him after failing to do so during the offseason. Instead, because of how well Randle has been playing, he could draw interest ahead of the trade deadline.
Appreciate the job Julius Randle has done offensively this year:
— John Schmeelk (@Schmeelk) November 30, 2022
47.2% FG (best since 18/19)
34.3% 3PT (3rd best of career)
6 FTA's per game (T 2nd best career)
54.3% EFG (best since Pelicans)
The man has vastly improved his shot selection + he's GOOD offensively.
Even if New York miraculously manages to make it to the play-in tournament to then advance to the playoffs, the team isn’t going to make it past the first round. Jalen Brunson was a great offseason addition, but because the Knicks are still without a star, they’re going to remain toward the bottom half of the Eastern Conference.
Randle isn’t the future of New York, either. Even after a phenomenal 2020-21 season that resulted in a four-year extension, the Knicks aren’t going to make it back to the playoffs behind Randle’s heroic efforts again. It would be in the front office’s best interest to shop Randle, not only for Obi Toppin’s sake but also to gauge what they’d be able to get in return.
His extension kicked in at the start of the year and he’s making $23.8 million this season. He will make $25.7 million in 2023-24 and $27.5 million in 2024-25 before having a $29.5 million player option in 2025-26. Getting his contract off the books would free up additional space for New York to go after the star that the organization has been waiting for.
The front office needs to at least think about trading Julius Randle, especially while his value is far higher than it was last season.
2 teams that might be desperate enough to trade for Knicks’ Evan Fournier
As Evan Fournier continues to rack up DNPs for the New York Knicks, a trade will likely happen before the February deadline.