Grade the Trade: Knicks can spark defense with champion reunion

The New York Knicks don’t have a lot of championship pedigree. That is true of the franchise, with the last NBA title coming back in 1973 with Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and head coach Red Holzman. It’s also true of the roster, where a largely homegrown team of players doesn’t have an NBA title among them.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008 as an assistant coach, but there is something different about having championship pedigree among the players. They can speak to the grind to make it that far, the determination, the singular focus on reaching the goal.

The New York Knicks could use some championship pedigree on the roster

As the New York Knicks begin to build towards that ultimate goal, perhaps making some big-time trades along the way to add a star or buff up the supporting cast, one way to help the roster would be to add players with that level of experience. Perhaps that does mean finding veterans who have won an NBA title before.

It could also mean bringing in players who have won a college championship, too. Jalen Brunson can actually speak to that, having won two titles at Villanova. Could the Knicks benefit from bringing in a former teammate of Brunson’s at Villanova, who can bring some defense, rebounding, and a sprinkle of championship pedigree to this team?