Knicks at the NBA trade deadline: Why I think New York does something

This is a bit different for Leon Rose and Co.

Since taking over as president of the New York Knicks in 2020, New Yorks current front office has usually handled its in-season trade business well ahead of the NBA s trade deadline, whether that be Derrick Rose (2021), Cam Reddish (2022) or OG Anunoby (2023).

This time around, the Knicks (31-16), who are knocking on the door of the No.

2 seed in the Eastern Conference, have yet to make a move with the Feb.

6 deadline a week away.

Advertisement The Knicks high payroll and commitment to a starting unit that is one of the best in basketball is a big reason why.

Furthermore, so is the uncertainty around the league about the health of center Mitchell Robinson .

The 26-year-old is the only non-starting player on the roster with a contract capable of facilitating a trade of significant magnitude without New York gutting its bench.

League sources told The Athletic that they are under the impression that the Knicks are open to moving the oft-injured Robinson, who will make $14.3 million this year and $12.9 million next.

Yet, the big man who has been a defensive anchor for New York for several seasons, underwent foot surgery in May and has not played in a game this year.

Multiple league sources have said the Knicks told them that Robinsons return is around the corner, however, New York head coach Tom Thibodeau said this week that Robinson is not yet practicing with the team and just began running and jumping.

Im fairly confident that the Knicks, with their diminished asset pool which took a hit after acquiring Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns over the last year and some change wont attach picks just to move off of Robinson.

The Knicks have been checking in on the backup big-man market too, league sources say.

They want to keep their starting lineup as is.

With the way Precious Achiuwa has been playing as of late, and New York exploring the backup center market, wing depth is certainly something else that the Knicks could address in the immediate future.

Anunoby, Bridges and Josh Hart are among the league leaders in minutes.

The fourth wing on the roster is Landry Shamet , who has been in and out of the rotation for much of the year.

Given New Yorks financial situation the team is approximately $535,000 short of the second apron, a payroll threshold they cannot cross at any point this season and the number of non-Robinson contracts on the bench that are between the veteran minimum and $6 million, its hard to see how the Knicks address this void on the wing in a meaningful way.

However, there are possible smaller-scale options.

Advertisement Of the players on New Yorks roster, league sources who have spoken to The Athletic believe Jericho Sims is the most likely to get moved.

The challenge the Knicks face with that is that Sims is on the books for just $2 million.

Scouring the league, there arent many wings making roughly $2 million that would surely move the needle for New York.

A possible player-for-player swap involving Sims and someone like New Orleans Javonte Green feels like the type of move the Knicks could be seeking.

Green is a solid veteran who plays hard and is shooting 38 percent from 3 on the season.

Another avenue that feels possible as the deadline nears is that the Knicks trade Sims and dont take back any money.

A scenario in which the Knicks trade Sims and a more-favorable second-round pick to another team for a less-favorable second-round pick just to not take money back could be of benefit to New York.

Why? Because of the buyout market.

As is the case every year, rotation players on rival teams some unhappy with their role, direction of team down the stretch or are trade throw-ins just to make money work become available on the buyout market.

Without making a trade by the deadline, the Knicks would have to wait until March 1 to sign a player in order for the prorated veteran minimum to not exceed the hard cap.

New York would have the flexibility to sign someone sooner if it shed salary over the next week.

The caveat is that the Knicks, as a first-apron team, cant sign a player on the buyout market who made more than $12.8 million before being bought out.

New York doesnt have to do anything between now and the trade deadline to reach its goals.

The Knicks have been fine with the roster as is.

With that said, the sense around the league is that the Knicks will do something minor in order to bolster their bench, whether sooner by getting a player back in a trade or later in the buyout market.

Advertisement The fact that Rose and the rest of New Yorks front office havent done anything yet suggests that they are weighing their minimal options, holding out hope that someone takes Robinson or are content with the roster as is for this season.

Well find out soon.

(Photo of Leon Rose: Michael Reaves / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.