Grade the Trade: How Knicks could pull off deal for Trae Young
Why the Knicks would do this trade
The New York Knicks reportedly had a chance to add an All-Star guard this summer, instead holding the line on their trade offer and watching the Cleveland Cavaliers swoop in and snag Donovan Mitchell. Since then they have watched the Cavs explode up the standings and Mitchell make an MVP-case.
They don’t want to simply rush into a deal for the next available star player, but it makes sense for them to make a strong offer when the next one does hit the market. If that is Trae Young, the Knicks would be pursuing a player with a higher offensive pedigree than Mitchell showed in Utah, and one every bit as marketable in New York.
Keeping Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett in the proposed deal gives the Knicks quite the nucleus to build around, and the balance between their offensive firepower and Tom Thibodeau’s defensive coaching could put the Knicks in position to have a Top-10 defense and Top-3 offense.
It’s a lot to give up, but it doesn’t deplete the Knicks’ assets by any means, and they still have some pieces to go out and find another upgrade. This offseason they can find other depth pieces to fill in around their “Big 4” and look to make a big push next season. Trae Young is not a perfect player, but he is a very good one, and he would thrive playing in Madison Square Garden.
Grade: B+
