Would Knicks make this Kyle Kuzma trade with Wizards?
Knicks trade proposal to add Kuzma: Would they do it?
Now we come to the most important question for readers of this site: would the New York Knicks make this trade? The value play seems solid, with the Knicks giving up two players outside of the rotation in Rose and Reddish, their backup power forward and a second-round pick. They don’t give up a first, and they don’t give up Immanuel Quickley or Quentin Grimes, players they seem to value more highly than Toppin.
On the other hand, adding Kuzma to a roster that still has Julius Randle leads to a questionable endpoint. Is Kuzma just becoming the next Toppin, stuck behind Randle? Playing the two together at the forward positions would be a floor-spacing nightmare. If the Knicks are moving on from Randle in a separate deal, this makes a lot more sense.
Part of the value of the move is whether Kuzma re-signs and how much he signs for. If the Knicks bring him back at around $20 million on a long-term contract it would seem to fit the goal in making the trade; if they spend $25 or more per season, or worse if he walks and signs with the Pacers or Pistons, suddenly the young talent they sent out the door hurts a bit more.
The Knicks have plenty of future draft capital, none of these players are essential nor likely to close games for the Knicks this year, and they can afford to add a little bit of money this season because they have plenty of room under the tax line. This isn’t a slam dunk, and it depends on what happens with Randle, but this seems like a solid value play for the Knicks.
Final Verdict: Make the trade
