The trade rumors have been swirling. Who should the Knicks trade for before the deadline?
The NBA trade deadline is less than a week away and according to reports it looks like the Knicks are trying to make another move. Players such as Malcolm Brogden, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Clarkson, Bruce Brown and Bojan Bogdanovic have been linked to the Knicks for a potential trade before the deadline.
Now, the Knicks just came off their best month of basketball. Finishing January with an 14-2 record while pulling off 8 straight wins. Unfortunately, with Julius Randle likely to miss nearly a month of playing time due to a dislocated shoulder, the Knicks need to bring in a player that can relieve some of the offensive load off of Jalen Brunson. This is something that they needed before Randle’s injury but now it’s a necessity. The front office must find a way to get someone to fill this role without giving up a lot of draft capital or a key player. If I’m the Knicks GM, these are the two main players that I would be looking to add to this roster.
Knicks Trade Rumors: Malcolm Brogden, Trailblazers PG
The former Rookie of the Year is currently having a productive season with the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s averaging 15.8PPG and 5.5 APG while shooting just over 44% from the field. Also, Brogdon won the Sixth Man of the Year award with the Celtics last season. He was a big contributor for Boston’s playoff run.
The mixture of Brogdon’s playmaking ability, scoring production, defensive effort, and playoff experience is exactly what the Knicks need off the bench. Brogdon can lead the second unit while taking pressure off of Brunson. Also, Brogdon is under contract until the end of next season which erases the risk of him potentially leaving in the upcoming offseason.
Recently, there have been some mock trades that have been thrown out on social media that can legitimately be in play to acquire Brogdon.
Ultimately, a first round pick would definitely have to be in the mix to complete a trade along with Evan Fournier and maybe Quentin Grimes. I wouldn’t hesitate to make this deal happen if I’m the Knicks.The instant impact Brogdon can make on this team would be huge and can prove to be the difference in the postseason. He should be the Knicks number one trade target as the trade deadline quickly approaches. Hopefully, this deal can get done.
Knicks Trade Rumors: Jordan Clarkson, Jazz PG/SG
In a way, I feel like Clarkson would be the veteran and taller version of Immanuel Quickley if the Knicks were to acquire him. He is a career 16 PPG scorer that can create his own shot and has the ability to get hot in a hurry. Clarkson is also a former Sixth Man of the Year with the Utah Jazz. He is currently averaging 17.7 PPG and 4.8 APG while shooting 42.1% from the field. Now, Clarkson might not be the facilitator that Brogdon is but he can definitely provide the Knicks with a much needed scoring punch off the bench.
According to a report per Joe Vardon from theAthletic, it looks Clarkson wants to be a Knick. Which is always a plus when you are trying to acquire a player in a trade.
Clarkson’s fit on this Knicks team would be seamless. And if he already wants to be a Knick, why not trade for him? Plus, the asking price might be the same as Brogdon’s. A first round pick would likely be the centerpiece of a trade with Clarkson alongside role players like Grimes or Fournier.
When you are a playoff team like the Knicks, a first round pick for a potential game changing acquisition is worth the risk, especially when you have several first round picks like the Knicks do. In the end, going after a player like Clarkson is something that the Knicks should heavily consider. He can really be a big X-factor for this team come postseason time.
Final Thoughts
The Knicks are in a rare position to actually compete. Even though the Julius Randle injury has put a damper on things for the time being, they are still in a good position. If they can land either Malcolm Brogdon or Jordan Clarkson in a trade, it can really make a difference. We’ll see if the Knicks can seal the deal on one of these two players before the 3pm deadline on February 8th.
Noteable Weekend Matchup
Knicks vs Lakers @ MSG
