Would Knicks do this Derrick Rose, Evan Fournier trade with Clippers?
The New York Knicks have been exceeding their expectations and are currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Aside from the outliers, most of their losses have been fairly close games, and a good chunk of them have been losses from unlikely comebacks by the opponent.
The team is still young and needs to navigate through winning with consistency but with playoffs in mind, the Knicks will definitely look to upgrade their roster before the trade deadline.
Here’s a trade that I think would work for both the Knicks and the Clippers:
Why would the Knicks do this trade?
The Knicks acquired Derrick Rose back in 2021 for Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick. Since then, Rose has been an integral part of Thibodeau’s team. Rose helped the team make their first playoff appearance in almost a decade in the 2020-21 season. While he has been serviceable to the team, he is no longer in the rotation and should be respectfully traded to a team that can use his talents.
Evan Fournier also has been an utmost professional since he arrived at the Garden and has never complained about his lack of playing time.
Robert Covington can provide another 3-and-D option from the bench and can guard multiple positions. While his numbers from the three-point line have not been what people are used to, perhaps a change in scenery can revive his perimeter shooting and defensive prowess. His minutes would provide solid rest for both RJ Barrett and Julius Randle and perhaps he could be in the line-up to close out games.
Luke Kennard is another perimeter threat that can help the Knicks space the floor from the bench. Quentin Grimes has established his starting position as the two-guard with his relentless defense but you can never have enough shooting in the modern NBA. I don’t see Kennard taking a lot of minutes from anyone in particular but come later in the season with all the little injuries picked up, the Knicks will be glad to have someone like Kennard to fill in any of the perimeter positions.
Both contracts will also be expiring in a year so come summer, they could be great pieces for a big trade down the line.
Why would the Clippers do this trade?
The Clippers are seventh in defensive rating yet are 27th in offensive rating. Simply put, they need help scoring the basketball. Due to the length and athleticism of the wing, the current scheme of the team may allow some defensive deficiencies as long as their offensive counterparts are a net plus to the team.
Both Fournier and Rose struggle in the defensive department but both of them are still more than serviceable offensively. Fournier will be able to replace the outside shooting that Luke Kennard provided and he can create his own shot as well, which is something both Covington and Kennard cannot do.
Rose can still penetrate the paint effectively when healthy and could add a lot to their offense in case there’s an injury to Reggie Jackson or John Wall. This Clippers team is always riddled with injuries so it’s never a bad thing to have someone like Rose ready to play.
Both Covington and Kennard are not getting the minutes due to the depth at the wing and both contracts hold a good chunk of their cap space. Both of their contracts are guaranteed until 2024, while Rose’s contract has a team option for next year. This would be a good way to shed some space while obtaining a second-round pick in the process. Fournier also has a team option for 2025 so it’s essentially the same length as Covington and Kennard.
The Knicks can upgrade their roster enough to compete in the playoffs and the Clippers can do the same with this trade. While this is not a huge move to upgrade the team significantly, this would allow the Knicks to continue to build their chemistry without much disruption. Seeing as this is a net positive for both squads, this trade should be considered by both parties.
