The New York Knicks are a team that is going to be in the market to make some moves both ahead of the NBA trade deadline and in the offseason to upgrade the roster. New York has had an up and down season thus far, but there is certainly potential in this roster to make some noise.
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett both having a regression after breakout 2020-21 seasons have not helped the cause. Randle was named to his first All-Star and All-NBA team, while Barrett was ascending toward those levels. This season, they have both taken a step back and the team has been unable to overcome it.
New York is also lacking an identity this season. Last season, whenever a team faced off with the Knicks, they knew they would be in for a physical, hard-nosed, defensive-minded game. This season that is not the case, as the Knicks cannot consistently get stops, especially on the perimeter.
They took a chance in the offseason bringing in offensive-minded players in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, replacing defensive-minded ones in Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock.
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The results have been mixed, at best, as Walker was removed from the rotation for three weeks and Fournier has struggled against every team outside the Boston Celtics.
Leon Rose, Scott Perry and William Wesley will have to figure out which direction they want to take the team in. If they look to capitalize on a team that could become sellers, the Portland Trail Blazers could become a trade partner.
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Could CJ McCollum be someone on the team’s radar? McCollum would provide the Knicks with a go-to option offensively, pushing Randle and Barrett down a spot in the pecking order, which may help them get on track. He has shown he is a capable playmaker as well, helping compensate for Derrick Rose and Walker being sidelined.
What could a deal between the Knicks and Trail Blazers look like? Here are two trade packages that could be of interest to both teams.
