As of January 31st, the New York Knicks are 23-27. That’s good for 12th in the eastern conference. They are reeling fast and are in need of some changes. After a feel-good 2020-21 regular season, their trajectory seemed to be straight upward, but their moves in the offseason clearly haven’t panned out. This team is not performing as well as most fans thought they could, so it’s time to put my GM hat on and fix the Knicks.
Trade 1: Knicks/Lakers/Hornets
Knicks Receive: Russell Westbrook, Cody Martin, Austin Reaves, 2027 First Round Pick (Via Chicago or Detroit), 2022 Second Round Pick (Via Toronto), 2025 First Round Pick (Top Ten Protected) and a 2023 Second Round Pick (Via Chicago).
Lakers Receive: Kemba Walker, Alec Burks, Evan Fournier
Hornets Receive: Mitchell Robinson
With this trade, The Knicks take a chance on Westbrook and see if (on the short team) his presence can make the team better with his style of play, although it’s highly unlikely. Still if the Westbrook two year experiment doesn’t work out, we do get some picks for our troubles. This move also clears out minutes for recently acquired Cam Reddish and minutes for him to play for the Knicks. For the Lakers, they give up three future picks for three role players that can help the Lakers and Lebron. Adding Fournier, Walker and Burks gives the Lakers key role players, with scoring and shooting that helps make the Lakers deeper as a team.As for the Hornets, they send a role player (Cody Martin) and a pick to take a look at Mitchell Robinson, who can fill their need at Center.
Trade 2: Knicks/Pacers
Knicks Receive: T.J. Warren, Myles Turner, 2022 Second Round Pick (Via Miami), and a 2023 Second Round Pick (Via San Antonio).
Pacers Receive: Evan Fournier, Nerlens Noel, Immanuel Quickley, and 2023 First Round Pick (Via Dallas.
In this trade, The Knicks upgrade their Center position with Myles Turner, with his ability to shoot threes and play defense (already making him better than Noel and Robinson). They also get to rid themselves of Fournier, and Noel’s contract. Giving up Quickley and the Dallas pick is a small price to do so. As for the Pacers, they break up the Turner and Sabonis combo with this move and add pieces that better compliment one of their centers instead of two. They get two solid wings in Fournier and Quickley plus a pick along with Noel, who can be a solid backup option behind Sabonis.
Trade 3: Knicks/Mavericks
Knicks Receive: Tim Hardaway Jr, Sterling Brown, and 2025 First Round Pick
Pacers Receive: Evan Fournier, Kemba Walker
Even though they do give up another pick to the Knicks, Dallas gets two rotational players in Fournier and Walker, with Walker being a solid backup option behind Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson. Plus with Hardaway Jr hurt, they get a short term replacement in Fournier who can play a similar role to Hardaway Jr and is a better ball handler than Hardaway Jr. For the Knicks they re-acquire Hardaway Jr (although injured) to replace Fournier when he returns. I see this as a two for one trade, as sterling brown won’t play as much plus we get a pick and create minutes for Cam Reddish.
Trade 4: Knicks/Wizards
Knicks Receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Raul Neto, and Spencer Dinwiddle
Wizards Receive: Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, and Immanuel Quickley.
With this deal both the Knicks and Wizards get to swap players for the time being. The Wizards get to see if Quickley is a better fit next to Beal than Dinwiddle. Plus they get two wings that can be better offensive options for the roster. For the Knicks this is not only a salary dump (in a way) but also a move to better the defense too. Dinwiddle may get the start over Kemba Walker and Caldwell-Pope is another defensive wing that can help fortify the Knicks in a way too.
Trade 5: Knicks/Kings
Knicks Receive: Harrison Barnes, Damian Jones, De’Aaron Fox, Jahmi’us Ramsey and Robert Woodard II
Kings Receive: Kemba Walker, Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, Nerlens Noel, Immanuel Quickley, 2023 Second Round Pick (Via Oklahoma City, Washington, Dallas or Miami) 2022 Second Round Pick (Via Charlotte) and 2023 First Round Pick (Via Dallas).
In this trade, the Knicks take a gamble with trading for De’aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes, plus some extra pieces. They do give up a few picks in the process but they take a gamble on Fox and Barnes, thus seeing that they could be a good fit on the Knicks to make them better. For the Kings, they get a decent hall of role players and picks for trading away Barnes and Fox. With the move they can finally give this team to Tyrese Haliburton.
Trade 6: Knicks/Pistons
Kicks Receive: Cory Josep, Jerami Grant
Kings Receive: Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, 2023 Second Round Pick (Via Utah), 2023 Second Round Pick (Via Oklahoma City, Washington, Dallas or Miami) and 2023 First Round Pick (Via Dallas).
In this scenario, the Knicks got a highly sought out target in Jerami Grant for the Pistons. They also get Joseph as a replacement for Kemba Walker. Grant’s presence on the team gives the Knicks an upgrade on both sides of the floor and gives them more athleticism on both ends. For the Pistons, they get to finally trade Grant and get a decent hall of rotational players that they can trade and a few picks with it too.
Leon Collington
Born and Raised in the Greater NYC Area. Long time New York Knicks fan as well as a Huge NBA fan since 2006. You can follow him on twitter at @KyosotaComics.