The New York Knicks are one team that could be busy ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline. They are in a battle for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs and may need to shake the roster up a little bit to get there.
After finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference last season, they have been unable to replicate that success this season. They no longer have a defensive identity to rely on each night out, which is part of the problem.
The Knicks’ front office made a gamble in the offseason, opting to upgrade the offense at the expense of the defense. It hasn’t panned out as hoped, as the offense has improved, but not enough to compensate for the drop in defensive performance.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for getting the most out of his team defensively but has struggled to do it this season. The starting five is where they have had the issues, which has led to them being connected to some players on the Indiana Pacers.
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One of the players that could help the Knicks is Caris LeVert. He would provide the team with another ball-handler and someone who could score in isolation when need be. LeVert would also bring some defensive versatility to the team, as he can defend both backcourt spots and the wing.
But, given his injury history, the price may not be too high. What would it cost the Knicks to land him? Here are two trade packages they could consider that would bring him to the Big Apple.