Weeks have gone by since it was reported that the New York Knicks were listening to offers for Immanuel Quickley, but since then, those reports have quieted down due to the guard’s performance in the starting lineup with no RJ Barrett.
In a piece released on Wednesday, Marc Stein (subscription required) wrote that “New York is increasingly determined to turn away trade proposals for guard Immanuel Quickley as the deadline draws near.” In the games that Quickley’s started this season, he’s averaged 20.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 44.6% from the field.
There’s a reason why the Quickley trade rumors have quieted down. As of right now, the two likeliest Knicks players to be traded are Cam Reddish and Derrick Rose, but according to Stein, Rose will only be dealt if it’s to a “good place.”
If New York were to trade Quickley, it would be shocking, which is why Bobby Marks’ Knicks-Lakers proposed trade (subscription required) makes no sense.
This Knicks-Lakers trade proposed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks shouldn’t even be an idea
The above trade scenario was part of Bobby Marks’ ESPN Western Conference Trade Guide that was published on Wednesday, so it’s not as if it was a trade that he created when the Immanuel Quickley trade rumors were swirling around.
If New York were still shopping Quickley, a trade like the one above would make sense. Kendrick Nunn is on a $5.3 million expiring contract and he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent over the summer. However, the most ideal part of the trade scenario for the Knicks is of course the first-round pick. The Lakers have shown a reluctance to part with one of their two first-round picks and with the Knicks still in pursuit of a star, that first-round pick would come in handy.
Los Angeles would be getting a promising young player in Quickley, who will be eligible for an extension over the offseason. For an organization that took quite a few steps back by trading its future away for Russell Westbrook, Quickley would be a big step forward.
Although New York would be getting additional draft capital in this deal, Quickley has proven (especially as of late) that he can be a key piece of the Knicks’ future. It might be a wild concept but the more time that IQ spends on the court, the better he becomes. He isn’t a player that New York should get rid of ahead of the deadline.
Nice try, Marks.
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