Grade the Trade: Knicks join Lillard deal in latest 3-team idea

Would the Knicks accept this deal?

The New York Knicks have a deep roster, with multiple options available at every position except perhaps power forward. It’s the kind of roster that is versatile enough to win in the playoffs, provided the Knicks can find a second star to pair with Jalen Brunson. The Knicks know this, and they are patiently waiting for the right star to come available; you only get to make that big swing once.

In the meantime, however, their team can use more offensive creation. Brunson shouldered a lot of that load last season, but after him too much of it fell on Julius Randle, and the Knicks would be wise to shift that distribution. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are options, but none boasts the on-ball shot creation of a player like Tyler Herro.

Better yet, similarly to the Miami Heat, the Knicks boast the defensive pieces to slot alongside Herro and insulate the team from his defensive weaknesses. Quentin Grimes, Quickley, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo are all solid defenders to allow Herro to slot on an opponent’s least-threatening option.

If Herro were the long-term goal, the positional imbalance here would likely be an issue. The Knicks are already flush with small guards, and most of the best players on their roster would be guards: Brunson, Herro, Quickley, Grimes, DiVincenzo and McBride, with Hart and Barrett undersized forwards. Building a championship roster with that lack of size could be problematic.

As a stepping stone to another deal, however, it makes a lot of sense. Herro can help the team’s offense now, and then be used in a trade for a player like Paul George, Joel Embiid or Anthony Davis down the line. His presence likely helps the Knicks in negotiations with Quickley on a new deal as well, a pleasant side effect.

Evan Fournier isn’t a ticking time bomb, but this trade allows the Knicks to appease him and still get the benefit of his matching salary. Neither first-round pick is a premium option, and they gain a longer timetable by turning them into a talented young player. It’s not the sort of runaway success that the Brunson signing was last summer, but it’s not a bad deal, either. They keep their core, add a dynamic young shot-creator, and keep their options alive for a trade down the line.

Grade: B+