Why This Trade Makes Sense For The New York Knicks
Quite simply, the Knicks have to make some kind of big move for a star this offseason. It has been years of swinging and missing on big names in free agency. New York has been stuck in mediocrity for far too long and the way that the 2021-22 NBA season finished for them shows that something needs to happen.
Julius Randle took a huge step back this season after an All-Star campaign a year ago. Tom Thibodeau continues to struggle to develop young talent and could very well be on the hot seat early on next year.
Going out and acquiring a star point guard who can come in, score at a high level, and make other players better around him is a must. There are other options outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but none that would have the kind of impact of the 23-year-old.
Among those other options could be Terry Rozier, Malcolm Brogdon, and Mike Conley. All three would be cheaper, but they would not bring the kind of star power that Gilgeous-Alexander has. If the Knicks want to keep guys like Fournier, Toppin, and Rose around, making a move for one of the “Plan B” options would make more sense.
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However, at this current stage the franchise is in, the Knicks need to be aggressive. If they make two or three right moves, they could find themselves immediately back in contention in the Eastern Conference.
New York should have no issue with giving up Fournier, Rose, Toppin, and Reddish to make this work. Only having to give up two first-round picks makes this an even better move. Gilgeous-Alexander is still young with plenty of room to develop and has the potential to be a true superstar and one of the most dynamic guards in the NBA.
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If the Knicks want to swing big, it doesn’t get any better than this trade with the Thunder. They would take a big step forward immediately and would also be a more appealing destination for other players. New York may not end up pursuing this move and the Thunder may not want to move Gilgeous-Alexander, but it’s an idea that could make a lot of sense for both parties involved.
