How This Trade Impacts New York Knicks
This kind of trade likely isn’t one that the New York Knicks would make right now. They are going to see how things look first with Jalen Brunson as the starting point guard before altering the rotation further.
However, if they find that Brunson is better-suited playing off the ball as a shooting guard, they would be in the market again for a point guard. De’Aaron Fox is someone that has been in trade rumors on and off and has been linked to the Knicks previously.
Only 24, Fox would fit the team’s timeline perfectly as someone that can grow along with the other young players in RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson, Jericho Sims and Deuce McBride. A bonafide point guard would help all of them take their games to another level.
There would be major question marks about how things would work defensively with that alignment as a lot of pressure would be put on Barrett as a perimeter defender. Fox leaves a lot to be desired defensively, but if any coach can get a player to turn things around on that end of the court it is Tom Thibodeau.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings & New York Knicks Updates
The Knicks accomplish their goal of opening up minutes, as Julius Randle and Derrick Rose will be replaced by Toppin in the rotation with Quickley being handed the keys to the second unit. That bench group of IQ, Grimes, Evan Fournier and Isaiah Hartenstein would be a lot of fun to watch.
The Knicks are sending two protected first-round picks to the Kings as well. It has been reported that at least one pick would need to be attached to Randle to move him.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings & New York Knicks Updates
Unwilling to give up one unprotected pick, New York parts with two protected ones. Figuring things out with a flawed point guard such as Fox is a lot easier than figuring things out with a flawed power forward.
