How This Trade Impacts New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have done a great job of compiling assets since Leon Rose and Scott Perry took over the front office. They have all of their draft picks going forward and added a few extras along the way. The contracts they signed players to in free agency were done to use them as part of trade packages should the need arise.
In this scenario, they are dipping into those assets to acquire Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic. This is an acquisition that may cause some confusion, as the team has a young center in Mitchell Robinson patrolling the middle already.
But, Robinson can be a free agent after this season. If the team doesn’t see him as a long-term fit as the starting center, maybe they view Bamba differently?
Bamba is heading for restricted free agency himself this offseason as he and the Magic did not agree to a rookie extension. He will have a qualifying offer that costs more than $22 million against the salary cap this offseason as well.
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Bamba would provide the Knicks with a different look offensively as he can step out and knock down shots from the perimeter. It is not something any center currently on the roster can do consistently, so the team may be interested in diversifying their frontcourt skill set.
New York could conceivably split time evenly between Bamba and Robinson, just as they were doing with Robinson and Nerlens Noel when the latter was healthy. But, is that worth a first-round pick?
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Given that they have extra, it probably is. The Knicks would get out from under Noel’s contract, clearing some more salary cap space to retain one of Robinson or Bamba long-term. Being a team seemingly in win-now mode, surrendering a first-round pick doesn’t hurt nearly as much as another rookie would find it difficult to break into this rotation.
