Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
We were tempted to send Mitchell Robinson to the Bulls here. We really were. Moreover, we can’t help but wonder if our editor expected us to.
All things considered, it just didn’t feel like a viable move from New York’s point of view. Robinson is 24, and already among the best defensive bigs in the NBA. If the Knicks are moving him, they’re probably looking for a bigger fish than Vucevic.
At the same time, they can probably part with Hartenstein. He’s a quality big, but he’s functionally similar to Robinson. They’re both non-shooting bigs who defend the rim at a high level.
Vucevic does not do that. On the other hand, he does space the floor and make plays for others at a far higher level. In other words, this deal is about giving themselves a different look for the Knicks.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
They probably don’t do it right now. This is more of a midseason proposal. If the Knicks are rolling hard enough, they could stick to their guns. If they’re losing, they’ll prefer a seller’s approach.
On the other hand, if they’re somewhere in the middle, landing a stretch big to diversify their rotation could be an interesting move. Is it a good one for the Bulls?
