The NBA trade deadline is now formally simply days away. As we inch in the direction of 3 p.m. ET on February ninth, we needed to dive into the most up-to-date Knicks trade rumors and see which potential deals are almost definitely or most useful to the workforce.
I’ve culled by way of the rumors and experiences and damaged down the 5 trades which have gotten the most press. We’ll go over whether or not or not the deal appears believable and whether or not or not it might be a very good trade for the Knicks.
Knicks Potential Deadline Deals
1. Obi Toppin, Evan Fournier, First Spherical choose (presumably extra) to Jazz for Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt
Michael Scotto on Hoops Hype was one in every of the first reporters to deal with the Knicks’ curiosity in Beasley and Vanderbilt. On one hand, including a plus shooter and a flexible large man for the bench is sensible. Fournier has additionally been out of the Knicks’ rotation, and the workforce doesn’t appear to wish to play Obi Toppin, so the Knicks wouldn’t be shedding many belongings from their present rotation.
On the different hand, this trade is not sensible for New York.
For starters, Hoops Hype reported that the Jazz are seeking a first-round pick, or equal belongings, for EACH of Beasley and Vanderbilt. When you depend Toppin as equal to a first-round choose (and it is best to) then the Knicks would nonetheless want so as to add one other first-round choose to make this deal. There may be simply no motive to make that deal.
Vanderbilt is principally the identical measurement as Toppin and is definitely a worse defender by FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR rating. Toppin is a +0.4 on the season, whereas Vanderbilt has a -1.4 score. Toppin also ranks 98th among forwards in defensive win share whereas Vanderbilt ranks 223rd. Contemplating Vanderbilt additionally brings nothing when it comes to three-point taking pictures whereas Toppin is taking pictures 37.6% from deep, it is not sensible to swap the two in the rotation.
The addition of Beasley additionally doesn’t make sense from an offensive standpoint. Whereas Beasley has been a quantity scorer in the previous and is a 38% profession three-point shooter, he’s additionally taking pictures simply 36% from deep this yr and has a -2.3 defensive RAPTOR rating. For comparability’s sake, Fournier, who has been faraway from the rotation, can also be a profession 38% three-point shooter and whereas he’s taking pictures simply 32.7% this yr, he has a -0.4 defensive RAPTOR rating.
Transferring Beasley into the rotation would offer a bit extra scoring however worse protection. Moreover, since Fournier is at present out of the rotation, including Beasley would possible imply chopping Miles McBride’s minutes, which doesn’t make sense.
The second-year guard has been enjoying a few of his greatest basketball in the previous couple of weeks and is one in every of the Knicks’ greatest perimeter defenders. Knocking him out of the rotation so as to add the poor protection of Beasley, who has had a adverse defensive RAPTOR rating yearly in the NBA, doesn’t jive with what the Knicks want for his or her bench. Giving up a first-round choose to additionally worsen simply appears like a significant mistake.
2. Cam Reddish to Cavaliers for Cedi Osman and a second-round choose
Now we transfer in a very totally different path to a deal that makes a ton of sense. Brett Siegel reported in Sports activities Illustrated that the Cavaliers are eager about Cam Reddish and are keen to half with a second-round choose in a deal for him, and “either Cedi Osman or Dylan Windler would likely be sent to the Knicks in an attempt for them to remain below the tax line.”
For starters, the Knicks are by no means going to play Reddish whereas Tom Thibodeau is teaching. That has turn into abundantly clear, so we don’t want to interrupt down what the Knicks can be shedding by dealing him as a result of, for all intents and functions, he’s not really part of this workforce.
Getting Osman again for Reddish, plus a choose, can be nice.
For starters, Osman’s 2.9 Wins Above Alternative, in response to RAPTOR, makes him the Twenty second-best small ahead in the league. He boasts a well-rounded recreation the place he shoots 36.2% from three whereas chipping in 9.2 factors, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per recreation. Whereas he’s not an amazing rebounder, he’s a stable defender along with his skills as a shooter and passer.
Osman has a 17.9% steal charge, which is round the identical mark as well-regarded defenders like Jaden McDaniels and Terance Mann. He ranks forty ninth amongst all forwards in defensive win share and has a +1.4 defensive RAPTOR. He would give New York a stable small ahead off of the bench who may help with flooring spacing whereas additionally including an extra ball-handler and stable perimeter defender.
Whereas not a significant transfer, this might be a stable get for the Knicks.
3. Obi Toppin, Derrick Rose, two protected first-round picks to Raptors for OG Anunoby
We’ve damaged this trade chance down a number of instances, so it is best to try the detailed write-up right here.
4. Two second-round picks to Raptors for Gary Trent Jr.
Michael Grange of SportsNet wrote earlier this week that the Raptors need both a protected first-round choose or two “good second-round picks” for Trent Jr. Contemplating the plethora of picks that New York has in upcoming drafts, that transfer would make a ton of sense for this workforce.
The 24-year-old Trent Jr. is recording 18.6 factors, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per recreation this season whereas taking pictures 36.7% from 3-point vary. He’s a barely below-average defender in response to RAPTOR however is the Forty fifth-ranked taking pictures guard in the league in response to Wins Above Alternative. Quentin Grimes ranks 54th for comparability’s sake.
Trent has a participant possibility for the 2023-24 season, however he’s reportedly anticipated to say no that so this is perhaps a one-year rental until the Knicks are in a position to signal him to an extension, however since (*5*), it appears unlikely. Nonetheless, New York may decide to place Trent in the beginning lineup so as to add extra floor-spacing to that unit and produce Grimes off of the bench or use Trent as a part of a dynamic second unit with Immanuel Quickley.
Contemplating how little they would wish to surrender for him, it makes a ton of sense.
5. Cam Reddish, protected first-round choose to Pistons for Saddiq Bey
We finish with a trade proposal that straddles the line when it comes to including worth to the Knicks or not. The Knicks have expressed interest in adding Bey, and the Pistons are reportedly inclined to maneuver him for a first-round choose and/or comparable younger expertise.
The 6’7″ 215-pound ahead is averaging 14.6 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per recreation this season and would give the Knicks extra depth and scoring in the second unit, which is efficacious. He’s averaging 19.2 factors, 6.7 rebounds, and a pair of.4 assists over his final ten video games, which reveals the versatility of his recreation from an offensive standpoint.
Bey can also be a profession 35.8% three-point shooter and is taking pictures 34.6% from deep this season, so whereas he’s not a constant shooter, he’s not likely an asset from past the arc. He’s additionally a poor defender, rating 92nd amongst all small forwards in defensive RAPTOR. Nonetheless, with Quickley and McBride additionally coming off of the bench, it’s attainable the Knicks may quit just a little on protection in the second unit so as to add some offensive punch. Or they may simply play Obi Toppin extra.
Clearly, there are extra Knicks rumors on the market, however these look like the most oft-discussed ones. We’ll make sure that to maintain you up to date on all issues Knicks trade deadline, so maintain coming again to amNY Sports activities.
