3 trades the Knicks need to make to strengthen bench unit
#1: A defensive-minded guard that can also occasionally hit the three ball
In a similar fashion to that of the Raptors, the Bulls are currently in the midst of a rough season and could very well look to shake things up before the trade deadline. One name on the roster who’s been in a ton of trade rumors is guard Alex Caruso, a defensive monster of a guard who is pretty solid offensively.
Caruso would fit very well on the Knicks and would also provide some much-needed defense to the bench. While Miles McBride is a good defender himself, his offensive woes make him a liability at times. While Caruso certainly isn’t some insane offensive talent, he’s certainly better than McBride on that end.
It sucks that all three of these trades had to involve Reddish, but for the minor moves that these are, Reddish is really the only player of value the Knicks should trade away. While players like Obi Toppin have been considered in trades, he is the kind of player the Knicks should only move on from if it nets them a star.
Reddish may be a solid player, but he is not receiving any minutes, so New York should maximize his value while the team still can.
Caruso is averaging 5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field and 38.7% from three on 2.2 attempts. While these offensive numbers may not be the best, Caruso’s defense is where he makes his money, as he is easily one of the better defensive guards in the league.
The Knicks have struggled at times defensively this season and could use a player like Caruso on their roster whether he starts or comes off the bench. The sort of defense and energy he brings is the type to elevate a team to another level.
Alongside his defense and three-point shooting, Caruso is also a very solid playmaker, which would be very valuable next to Immanuel Quickley. The two-way, playmaking duo those two could form would be one of the more exciting bench combos in the NBA.
