Well, we finally had our first Knicks trade of the 2022-23 season, and boy it couldn’t have started off better. Not only did the Knicks acquire an incredibly talented player in Josh Hart, but they gave up little to nothing for him.
Considering how poorly last season’s trade deadline went, this year is already a massive improvement.
The best part about this trade is that there is still a ton of time for the Knicks to make other moves to get even better considering that they didn’t give up many of their assets. However, we’re going to take things one move at a time and grade the most recent trade made by Leon Rose and the Knicks.
The Trail Blazers are trading Josh Hart to the Knicks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
Grading the Josh Hart New York Knicks-Portland Trail Blazers trade
With this deal, the Knicks sent Cam Reddish, Svi Mykhailiuk, Ryan Arcidiacono, and a lottery protected 2023 first-round pick to the Blazers. If the first-round pick does not convey, it turns into four future second-round picks.
Considering just how talented of a player Hart is on both sides of the ball, the Knicks made out clean with this deal. Obviously, the biggest downside is that Hart is on an expiring contract, but not a single player that was part of the trade was in the rotation for the Knicks. Hart will make an impact during his time in New York.
In 51 games in Portland, Hart averaged 9.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 30.4% from behind the arc on 2.2 attempts. While the three-ball may not be as great as it’s been in years past, everything else about his game is pretty darn good.
Not only does Hart average an efficient 9.5 points per game, but he is also a very solid playmaker and a great defender. Hart is the definition of hustle on both sides of the ball and will very quickly become a fan favorite in New York no matter how long he stays.
Hart also has experience alongside Knicks star Jalen Brunson, as they both played together at Villanova, so the chemistry with the team should work very well.
If New York decides to bring Hart back after this season he likely won’t cost too much, which is perfect considering the team’s current cap situation.
It was believed that Reddish was worth a second-round pick, so to trade him and a practically valueless first-round pick for one of the better role players in the NBA is an incredible trade.
Grade: A
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