Looking at the Knicks possibilities ahead of the trade deadline
They’ re surely not tanking, yet the market is devoid of real difference makers— unless Kevin Durant becomes available— and Leon Rose may be forced to settle for a tinker or two. Cam Reddish is the most likely to be dealt by Thursday’ s deadline and, if not, bought out in the aftermath. The Knicks and Reddish’ s representatives have been working towards a deal for months, as...
The Knicks, like much of the NBA, don’t have a clear posture at the deadline. They’re surely not tanking, yet the market is devoid of real difference makers — unless Kevin Durant becomes available (the Nets would never trade him to the Knicks, anyway) — and Leon Rose may be forced to settle for a tinker or two.
We’re talking about a bench upgrade or simply shedding baggage.
Cam Reddish is the most likely to be dealt by Thursday’s deadline and, if not, bought out in the aftermath. The Knicks and Reddish’s representatives have been working towards a deal for months, as the Daily News reported, but the demand is thin for a player who is out of the rotation and will become a free agent in the summer.
To say Reddish and coach Tom Thibodeau haven’t clicked would be an understatement. The latest example of Thibodeau’s icy view of the 23-year-old wing was during Sunday’s postgame press conference. The coach went out of his way to laud the professionalism of four players out of the rotation: Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Ryan Arcidiacono and Svi Mykhailiuk.
Thibodeau only left out Reddish. Not an accident. Either way, the Knicks’ decision to acquire Reddish for a first-round pick just a year ago looks foolish.
“They never had a plan for Cam,” a league source said. “And that’s on them.”
The Cavaliers, Nuggets and Pistons have been linked to Reddish, whose intrigue lies in his potential as a 2019 lottery pick. Two years ago, the Knicks traded another player in Thibodeau’s dog house, Austin Rivers, for a second-round pick. This could play out similarly.
Fournier is also being shopped but will hold more value after the season as an expiring contract. Trading him now — with $36 million remaining on the contract — would require a player or draft compensation as a sweetener.
Otherwise, there are two teams to monitor as it relates to the Knicks. The first is the Raptors, who have important decisions to make soon about their direction. According to a source, they’re listening to offers for OG Anunoby with the following in mind: if the haul is good enough — meaning the draft picks are plentiful — Toronto will accept it as the start of a long rebuild. There’s skepticism that team president Masai Ujiri has the desire for such a restart and he’s been asking for a Godfather return for Anunoby. An offer he can’t refuse.
The Knicks were reportedly disengaged from the Anunoby negotiations after initial interest, but, if the 25-year-old is dealt elsewhere, that opens the door for the Raptors to trade Gary Trent Jr.,Fred VanVleet and perhaps even Pascal Siakam.
The other team worth monitoring is the Jazz. Ahead of hosting the All-Star Game, Utah is one of the few sellers ahead of the deadline and has five players generating interest — Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley and Kelly Olynyk.
According to ESPN, the Knicks discussed a deal that would send Fournier, Obi Toppin and draft compensation to the Jazz for Beasley and Vanderbilt. Such a move would provide the Knicks bench upgrades and theoretically boost their push for the postseason, with owner James Dolan stating recently that the expectation is a playoff spot.
Olynyk, the 31-year-old Jazz center, has drawn interest from the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, a source told the News. He previously played for both franchises.
“A bunch of teams are on him,” the source said. “Good vet on a reasonable contract.
“But [Jazz president Danny Ainge] loves him.”
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