How This Trade Impacts New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have to decide this offseason the direction that they want to take the team. Hopefully, they land on signing RJ Barrett to an extension and build the roster up around him and the rest of their young core.
Moving on from some of the veterans that they have is key to executing this plan. They have to go all-in on providing the youngsters with as many opportunities to play as possible. This trade with the Brooklyn Nets would help accomplish that and bring in another potential cornerstone player in Ben Simmons.
Simmons is an elite defensive player when healthy. He is also an excellent playmaker, providing the Knicks with the point guard they have been seeking for years.
Simmons has some shortcomings, but his ceiling is very high. Adding him to a group with Barrett, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Jericho Sims and another lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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The price to acquire him isn’t too steep either. Julius Randle is someone that looked ready to move on at points during the season. His exit would also mean more minutes for Toppin, who looked ready for an expanded role.
Alec Burks was a key part of the rotation the last two seasons, but moving him would save Tom Thibodeau from himself. Burks was the starting point guard for a majority of the 2021-22 season despite being a wing player. His departure opens up minutes for players such as Reddish and Grimes to be full-time rotation players and Quickley to handle more point guard duties.
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Taking on Simmons is a huge risk, but one that is worth taking for the New York Knicks. They have some versatile pieces to help overcome Simmons’ shortcomings. Evan Fournier just set the record for 3-pointers made in a season and would be a perfect fit alongside him in the lineup.
