Why This Trade Makes Sense For The New York Knicks

Defense is the defining aspect of the New York Knicks this year and while they are one of the best defensive teams in the league, they are not that impressive offensively. The Knicks rank 29th in the league in scoring this year, which is why they really need another playmaker like Lonzo Ball. 

He is not going to come to New York and begin averaging 20+ points per game, but Lonzo Ball can help improve the Knicks offensively by making everyone else around him better. Right now, the Knicks have six players averaging double-digit scoring and Ball could help elevate the overall play of this team. 

They may not be an impressive offensive team in terms of scoring, but the Knicks as a team are shooting 36.8% from three-point range this year, ranking them 13th in the league in three-point shooting. All of the pieces are there for New York to be a great offensive team as well, they just need a pure distributor and floor general, which is exactly what Lonzo Ball is. 

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With Derrick Rose and Lonzo Ball in the backcourt as true floor generals, as well as Elfrid Payton who is a great distributor as well, the Knicks would have a loaded backcourt and a very unselfish team. With plenty of guys who can score on their roster, New York would definitely be a team that makes the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and a team that nobody would want to play in a 7-game series because of how they can wear down their opponents defensively. 

While getting another guard is not at the top of their priority list, the Knicks could greatly benefit from adding a talent like Lonzo Ball to their roster, which is why this trade is worthwhile to them and make a lot of sense in terms of making the playoffs for the first time since 2013.