The New York Knicks should engage in one more trade to round out the roster. There’s been a lot of maneuvering on the team, but as a whole, the roster is improved. An argument can be made about overpaying Jalen Brunson, but he’s still very talented. Isaiah Hartenstein can very well be one of the most underrated signings of the offseason. Mitchell Robinson was also retained, whereas the Knicks still have offensive talents in RJ Barrett and Julius Randle. There’s a lot of talent in the Eastern Conference, however, so as things stand, the Knicks are by no means a guaranteed playoff team.
New York Knicks: Two Trade Ideas
Getting Three Teams Involved
New York Knicks receive Eric Gordon and Sterling Brown from Houston.
Houston Rockets receive Landry Shamet, Dario Saric, and a second-round pick from Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns receive Evan Fournier from New York.
New York may want to walk away from the Fournier deal, although he remains a very solid offensive weapon. Gordon, however, brings the same offensive skills (or better), but also a knack for playing strong defense. He’ll help the cause in New York next season, but his contract is also off the books quicker than Fournier’s. Gordon can be an excellent starter in the backcourt alongside Brunson. Brown can also round out the roster with three-point shooting.
Houston finds a younger Gordon replacement here. Shamet can shoot well and is also a solid defender. In addition, he won’t command too much playing time to be taken away from Houston’s young and hungry guard core. Saric comes in on an expiring deal to make the salaries work.
Phoenix adds a scoring punch with Fournier. Their championship title is open right now and they’ll look to add as much talent as possible.
Spreading the Wealth
New York Knicks receive Harrison Barnes from Sacramento.
Sacramento Kings receive Duncan Robinson from Miami and the Dallas Mavericks’ 2023 first-round pick from New York.
Miami Heat receive Evan Fournier.
This move allows Barrett to play in the backcourt alongside Brunson and slides Barnes to the three for the Knicks. Barnes averaged about 16 points and six boards last year, making him a great starting option to have. Although he hasn’t been in the playoffs for a while, Barnes has previous experience with the Golden State Warriors. Robinson and Hartenstein can anchor the Knicks’ defense while there will be a plethora of offensive weapons in Barrett, Brunson, Randle, and Barnes.
Sacramento brings in one of the league’s top shooters in Robinson. Barnes also becomes expandable due to the arrival of Keegan Murray, so option for more shooting is always a good idea. Bringing in a first-round pick is always enticing too.
Finally, Miami moves on from Robinson who was seemingly fazed out of the rotation in the playoffs. The Heat have the potential to be true contenders, so they should fill their roster with win-now players. Fournier is experienced, and brings his offensive bag with him. Having both him and Tyler Herro rotating at the two will greatly benefit the offense, especially if Kyle Lowry‘s struggles persist.
