Making the Case: New York Knicks

This deal would be an indication that the New York Knicks are thirsting for a return back to the playoffs. The good thing about this trade is that it does theoretically make the Knicks a more competitive team without sacrificing any of their essential young core.

The one downside is having to move on from Mitchell Robinson who does have the potential to be one of the top centers in the league one day, but it seems less and less likely that he’ll achieve his best possible version for the Knicks anyway.

Instead, Thibs get the chance to instill his hard-nosed mentality into a player who’s notoriously clashed with his coaches throughout his career. If he were able to get through to Christian Wood, the Knicks would be the winners of this trade.

For all of Wood’s negatives, at his best, he displays a freakish combination of size, skill, and athleticism that is nearly unmatched in the NBA. Having a defensively-committed and team-oriented Christian Wood would instantly upgrade the Knicks roster.

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Eric Gordon gives them an experienced shooter who’s also a sturdy point-of-attack defender. Adding his two-way skillset should make New York a more efficient team on both ends of the court, and his playoff tenure will be invaluable were they to make a return to the postseason.

The relatively minimal cost for the Knicks in this deal makes it a no-brainer, even with the risks tied to trading for Christian Wood.