Since Tom Thibodeau dropped his rotation down to nine players and inserted Deuce McBride into the mix, the New York Knicks have gone 8-0. They are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, with the Memphis Grizzlies being the only team with a longer winning streak at even games.
Despite that success, some changes could be on the horizon. The Knicks have been one of the most active teams on the trade market thus far this season, as they are in the market to consolidate their roster. But given how well they are playing, could also be looking for a sizable upgrade to the rotation.
If this team has one weakness, it is on the wing, specifically the small forward spot. Evan Fournier and Cam Reddish are out of the rotation, leaving virtually all of the wing minutes to RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes, the starting small forward and shooting guard. Off the bench, the Knicks are using McBride, Immanuel Quickley, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jericho Sims to take the spot of Obi Toppin, who is injured.
The Knicks have the assets to pull off a sizable trade should the opportunity present itself. They have a ton of draft capital and plenty of contracts to match up should the need arise to match salary.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
One player to reportedly keep an eye on when it comes to the Knicks is Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards. Kuzma is having a career season averaging 21.4 points per game and could be squarely on the Knicks’ radar, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
“Another team to keep a close eye on with Kuzma is the New York Knicks. Kuzma is represented by Austin Brown of CAA, who worked closely with colleague Leon Rose before Rose left the agency to join the Knicks as president. New York has several CAA clients, including Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein and Obi Toppin.”
The CAA roots run deep within the Knicks organization and that has been the case for a long time. This is the first time that such a connection has provided the franchise with a strong foundation and continuity, which should help them acquire some talent upgrades.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
Kuzma is certainly a good player, but how realistic of a target he is for the Knicks is up for debate. His fit in the rotation would be an awkward one as power forward is his best position but Julius Randle is locked in there.
Given when Randle is asked to do it on a nightly basis, Kuzma would not be an upgrade. His presence could move Barrett to the shooting guard spot, providing Thibodeau with the kind of size he likes in his lineup, but the team’s defense could suffer, which is why Grimes is in the starting five and McBride is now a part of the rotation.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
Kuzma will also be in line for a contract that pays him well north of $20 million annually should he opt out of his player option for the 2023-24 season worth $13 million. He is only 27, but the Knicks may be better served saving that kind of money for their young core, which is going to get more expensive each of the next two offseasons.
