{"id":3425,"date":"2017-01-09T18:03:13","date_gmt":"2017-01-09T23:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=3425"},"modified":"2017-01-09T18:03:13","modified_gmt":"2017-01-09T23:03:13","slug":"potential-knicks-trade-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2017\/01\/09\/potential-knicks-trade-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential Knicks Trade Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite an offseason overhaul, the New York Knicks<\/strong> have been underwhelming this year, to say the least. They’re 17-20 and have really struggled to build some consistency, but\u00a0being the weak Conference that the East is, the Knicks still have a shot at making the playoffs. As a result, they’ll likely look to the trade market to find an upgrade, so here are five potential trade targets for the them.<\/p>\n

Potential Knicks Trade Targets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What The Knicks Are Working With<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the Knicks will look to the trade market to find a rotation upgrade, they’ll still have to give to get, meaning they’ll have to part with some familiar faces. Some names who have been said to be available include: forwards Lance Thomas<\/a><\/strong> and Mindaugas Kuzminskas<\/a><\/strong>, and big man Kyle O’Quinn<\/a><\/strong>; however, the Knicks will likely be in the market for frontline pieces, making Thomas and Kuzminskas more likely to be dealt.<\/p>\n

P.J. Tucker<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Knicks have been recently\u00a0linked<\/a> to Suns<\/strong> forward P.J. Tucker<\/strong>. The 31 year old Tucker is a defensive minded player. He’s a well rounded defender who can guard the perimeter, and the post; however, Tucker’s not much of a scoring threat, as\u00a0he’s averaging just over 6 points a game on the year, and is averaging just under 7 a game for his career.<\/p>\n

If the Knicks do choose to make a run at Tucker though,\u00a0they’ll likely have to surrender a young shooter such as Kuzminskas, and probably a second round pick or two.<\/p>\n

The Suns will be looking to get what they can for Tucker before he hits the open market this summer, and acquiring a shooter like Kuzminskas may be enticing for them; however, if the Knicks\u00a0decide that they don’t want to give up Kuzminskas, they could opt to pursue a trade with the Atlanta Hawks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Thabo Sefolosha<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Just a few days ago, the Atlanta Hawks dealt sharpshooter\u00a0Kyle Korver<\/a><\/strong> to the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/strong> – a move which will likely be the beginning of a fire sale for the Hawks. While the Hawks are still a playoff team, the organization fears that it will lose it’s best player, forward Paul Millsap<\/a><\/strong>, in free agency this summer, so they are contemplating whether to sell off their impending\u00a0free agents such as Millsap and maybe even swingman Thabo Sefolosha<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Sefolosha, like P.J. Tucker, is a defensive minded player who is amongst the elite at his position, but he’s also a free agent this summer. That makes his market value slightly lower than it would be if he were under contract another year; the Knicks could take advantage.<\/p>\n

While still a very good defender, the Hawks likely don’t envision Sefolosha as a part of\u00a0their future, so a deal for him may be a win-now, worth it deal for the Knicks. He’d bring a defensive swagger to a team who is one of the worst defensive teams in the league.<\/p>\n

A deal for him would likely result in the Knicks sending forward Lance Thomas to Atlanta and maybe a second round pick or two; however, if the Knicks are all in on making the playoffs this year, they could put the full court press on the Grizzlies’ Tony Allen<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tony Allen<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite being a playoff team in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies<\/strong> are at least making phone calls to see what they could get for veteran guard Tony Allen. While he’ll hit 35 in just a few days, Allen is still one of the best, if not the best on-ball defender in the league. His defensive tenacity and aggression make him the great defender that he is, and the Knicks are\u00a0in search of a defender like him; however, while he is hitting free agency this summer, he’ll likely cost more than it would to acquire Tucker and Sefolosha.<\/p>\n

If the Knicks were to make a run at Allen, they’d have to put together a nice package. While the Grizzlies would likely ask for their\u00a0first round pick, the Knicks can’t afford to\u00a0surrender that pick for a player on an expiring deal. A first round pick for a team that is deprived of picks is way too valuable to trade away in a desperation or adjustment type move; that means the Knicks will have to\u00a0counter by offering up a bevy of players.<\/p>\n

A legitimate offer for Allen that doesn’t include their first round pick would have to include Kuzminskas, big man Kyle O’Quinn, and either forward Lance Thomas or a couple second round picks. Kuzmiskas and O’Quinn could be beneficial additions\u00a0for Memphis. While both productive players, forward Chandler Parsons<\/a><\/strong> and center Marc Gasol<\/a><\/strong> have a history with injuries, and acquiring Kuzmiskas and O’Quinn could help provide a temporary safety blanket for them.<\/p>\n

Seth Curry<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The forgotten Curry, Seth Curry<\/strong>, could be a very intriguing option for the Knicks. While not as stellar as he was from three a year ago, Curry is still shooting roughly 40% from long range. His three point shooting ability is something the Knicks could use.<\/p>\n

While they do have some good shooters at their\u00a0disposal in Courtney Lee<\/a><\/strong> and Kuzminskas, the Knicks\u00a0offense has a tendency to gradually disintegrate in the second half of games, as they don’t have enough guys who can spot and hit big shots; Curry could help out from that standpoint.<\/p>\n

Last year, Curry shot 45% percent from three, and under the bright lights of New York, he may thrive. Under contract for the remainder of this year and next year at roughly 3 million a year, Curry could help the Knicks bench production now,\u00a0and potentially in the years to come.<\/p>\n

With the reeling Mavericks<\/strong> looking like a team on the decline, getting Curry shouldn’t be all too difficult for the Knicks; however, a trade for him would still\u00a0likely require dealing a young player such as rookie guard Ron Baker<\/a> and a couple second round picks.<\/p>\n

Kenneth Faried<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nuggets<\/strong> forward Kenneth Faried<\/strong> is in need of a new home. The energizing, explosive Faried is a two way player; he can defend the paint, but he’s also a high flying, above the rim finisher; however, his role has recently been diminished and at times unclear. He’s only averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds a game, in just 21.7 minutes. He’s been moved into a reserve role, and he’s not a reserve player.\u00a0The Knicks could offer the perfect solution for him.<\/p>\n

While they\u00a0would have a crowded front court with Faried, the Knicks could move big man Joakim Noah<\/a><\/strong> into a reserve role – a role with contract aside, he could thrive in<\/a>. Faried would\u00a0start at power forward, which would move Kristaps Porzingis<\/a><\/strong> to his natural position at center. Faried\u00a0put in between Carmelo Anthony<\/a><\/strong> and Porzingis at forward would give the Knicks an explosive and dangerous frontline. Faried would also be valuable in terms of his contract.<\/p>\n

Under contract for the next two years at roughly $13 million a year, Faried is on a very\u00a0team friendly deal which could allow\u00a0the Knicks to go all out on a top point guard this summer such as Chris Paul<\/a><\/strong> or Kyle Lowry<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Although his role has been a bit decimated, a trade for Faried would still cost. The Knicks would have to deal Kyle O’Quinn, Lance Thomas, and maybe even Ron Baker<\/strong>, who solidified a spot on the roster <\/a>for the time being earlier in the week.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n