With the trade deadline being right around the corner, trade rumors are at an all-time high and it’s getting to be both exciting and redundant. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always fun to look at the potential players the New York Knicks could add before the deadline, but some of the deals become so repetitive that it tends to get stale.
Regardless, I think most fans can agree that the Knicks need to make some sort of trade, whether it be for a star or a couple of role players.
In today’s edition of pass or pursue, we will be taking a look at four new trades centered around adding key role players/veterans to this Knicks roster in order to help push New York out of the play-in. These players shouldn’t break the bank, so let’s see if these trades got it right or not.
Playing Pass or Pursue with four new Knicks trades
Trade #1: Bringing the definition of hustle to the Big Apple
The first trade of the day is from SB Nation’s Jeremy Brener and I’ve got to say, this is a pretty darn good trade to start off with. While the players the Knicks are receiving may not propel them to contention, they will certainly make the team better.
Before we get into any other part of this trade, it should be noted that if the Knicks pull this deal off, they must look into finding a new backup big. While Jericho Sims can usually fill that role incredibly well, that is when Mitchell Robinson is healthy, which he has not been so far this season. With Sims being forced to start and Hartenstein being out of the picture with this trade, New York must find a new backup big to replace him.
Anyways, this is a rather interesting deal to look at. While the Knicks would be getting one of the best hustle players in the league, would it be worth getting rid of their backup big man?
In my honest opinion, yes. While finding a backup big would make things a little more difficult, players like Serge Ibaka could fill that role for a short period of time until Robinson returns and likely wouldn’t cost much to acquire.
As for the players the Knicks would be getting in return, this trade would work out quite well. Josh Hart may not be having as good of an offensive season as he’s had in years past, but his rebounding and defense are still incredibly valuable.
Hart is averaging 9.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 31.1% from behind the arc on 2.1 attempts per game. The three-point shooting isn’t ideal, but it’s not like the Knicks are giving away snipers for Hart.
Something that surprised me when watching some Hart tape this season is how solid of a playmaker he has been, which is something that would work incredibly well next to Immanuel Quickley off the bench, let alone his aforementioned defense.
As for Winslow, he likely wouldn’t see the floor too often due to his inconsistencies, however, if an injury occurs he could play a solid role off the bench.
Hart is an incredibly solid all-around backup wing that would fit perfectly in New York. If this trade is offered the Knicks’ front office should accept it without hesitation and get to work with finding a new backup big.
Verdict: Pursue