Grade the Trade: How Knicks could pull off deal for Trae Young

The New York Knicks got tricked two seasons ago. The introduction of a floor-raising coach in Tom Thibodeau helped to raise the defense high enough that Julius Randle could have a career year offensively and elevate this team to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference in 2020-21.

Then they met Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who slammed the door on the Knicks in five games. Young was the ultimate villain, showing out in the world’s greatest arena and actively taunting the Madison Square Garden crowd. He essentially crowned himself on the Knicks’ court.

The Knicks doubled down on that season, re-signing a number of veterans from that team, including Randle. That has led to a pair of mediocre seasons, although this year the pockets of hope have started to outnumber the frustrating losing streaks. What the Knicks haven’t done is blow all of their assets on a star player, instead moving contracts around and signing Jalen Brunson in free agency. Brunson has been a great addition to the Knicks and helped to stabilize their offensive attack.

Could the New York Knicks add a former villain and pull off a deal for Trae Young?

Now it seems like the villain of New York could be coming available on the trade market. Recent reports from NBA Insider Chris Haynes suggest that Young is unhappy with certain aspects of playing in Atlanta and could demand a trade as early as this summer. What if things continue to go south for the Hawks? If Young does ask out, could the Knicks use those hoarded assets to add a player who thrives on big stages?

Let’s break down what a deal would look like and whether the Knicks would be right to pull the trigger.