With the trade deadline approaching, what moves should the Knicks make?
NBAE via Getty Images
With the February 9 trade deadline fast approaching, rumors of possible trades are everywhere, especially with the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent move for Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards. The Knicks are a team who seem stuck and in need of improvement in their roster.
With a 26-23 record, the Knicks are currently the seventh seed in the East and need to make a change to improve or make noise in the standings. The possibilities of trades for the Knicks are plentiful as the roster has some players available due to head coach Tom Thibodeau giving most minutes to a limited number of players. Recent rumors put Knicks guard Evan Fournier in trade talks for Milwaukee guard Grayson Allen.
A weak spot for the Knicks is shooting, and it’s very ironic as Fournier would set the Knicks’ single-season record for most threes last season as Evan is a sharpshooter. Even with the limited minutes he does get this season, he plays well, but being 30 goes against Thibodeau’s new policy of playing the younger players, which was an outcry from fans last year.
Fournier’s contract will have him being paid nineteen million next year with a following club option for another $19 million. Fournier is not playing badly but is in a scenario of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, a trade for Allen doesn’t sound too bad.
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Allen, who is currently the NBA’s public enemy number one with his villain reputation, doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade over Fournier, but being younger at 27, it looks like he would get playing time. With playing time and good enough three-point shooting, this is a trade the Knicks should look at.
Rumors haven’t stopped at shipping Fournier in a trade, as teams are being reported at looking at Knicks forward Cam Reddish. It was reported that the Knicks were looking for two second-rounders as a possible trade for Reddish.
The 10th overall by the Hawks in 2019, Reddish is in his last year on his rookie contract. It’s not like Reddish isn’t talented or doesn’t have potential, but he hasn’t found a home that wants him like his teammates from Duke, R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson.
Reddish hasn’t played a game for the Knicks in two straight months, not because of injury, but it goes back to Thibodeau playing his main guys, Julius Randle and Barrett, who are also forwards. Julius is the known best player having another All-Star season, and Barrett, who the Knicks committed to this offseason. So, who can the Knicks get for Reddish?
Allen has been looked at if Fournier doesn’t work. Chicago Bulls guard Coby White’s name has also been thrown out there. What the Knicks front office favors is to somehow make a package deal to add not just a role player but a notable name to the roster. No matter what move the Knicks make, it will have to be soon, as the trade deadline is only getting closer.
