The New York Knicks are the hottest team in the NBA right now. They are riding a league-high eight-game winning streak, handling business against contending and rebuilding teams alike.
This streak could not have come at a better time, as New York was heading toward a major shake-up before getting back on track.
The Knicks hosted the Dallas Mavericks in a Saturday matinee at Madison Square Garden. They led by as many as 15 points in the first half but got run out of the building in the second half as they trailed by as many as 32 points in the second half and lost 121-100.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau had come to a crossroads. The team was seemingly not responding to him any longer, and there were whispers that he could be fired. He made the tough decision to shake up his rotation again, removing Derrick Rose and Cam Reddish and inserting Deuce McBride.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors & New York Knicks Updates
It is a move that has paid off, as the Knicks are rolling. With the season hanging in the balance, some within the organization were being proactive and looking into potentially making a blockbuster trade. The target? OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
“Internally, the Knicks were well aware that things were teetering. Before this most recent winning streak, someone from the club reached out to the Toronto Raptors to ask about trading for OG Anunoby. That’s a trade that would come at a significant cost — it’s not a move you make unless you know you have to shake up your roster.”
Anunoby likely isn’t someone that will be on the Knicks’ radar any longer with how well the team is playing and the asking price that was being attached to him. He is having a great season, taking another step in his development, but New York is no longer in the desperate position they were just over two weeks ago.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors & New York Knicks Updates
This eight-game winning streak likely saved a lot of people their jobs as the Knicks were quickly sinking down the standings. Now, they are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament, and looking to continue climbing upwards.
