2. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have done a great job in recent years cleaning up the image of the franchise. Leon Rose and Scott Perry have done a great job not only building the roster up but compiling future assets as well.
As a result, the Knicks are one team everyone keeps an eye on when it comes to making a blockbuster trade. They have all of their draft picks in addition to a few from other teams. Young players are littered throughout the roster that could be included in a deal depending on who it is they are targeting.
While they do not have the draft capital of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks have players that are more ready to help out the Suns now. Mitchell Robinson, who could be a restricted free agent himself, can be used as the centerpiece of a deal to land Deandre Ayton.
While he does not have the offensive repertoire of Ayton, Robinson is a legitimate difference-maker defensively. He is a great rim protector and has become a better rebounder each season in the NBA. He controls the paint and is an anchor for Tom Thibodeau’s defense.
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Ayton is someone that would help the New York Knicks open things up offensively. Too often opponents can collapse defensively because the center spot is occupied by a player that doesn’t do much offensively outside of dunking the ball.
Ayton has attempted as many shots from 3-16 feet away from the basket as he has at the rim, so he could provide the New York Knicks offense with a different dimension they are currently lacking.
