Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal 

This deal has the Knicks reuniting Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau. 

That’s significant in its own right. Having synergy between a star player and a head coach is useful. It should give the Knicks an identity. Of course, it has to make sense on the basketball court as well. 

It does in this case. The Knicks could use a defensive playmaker like Butler. Meanwhile, any limitations he has as a shooter can be minimized by the sweet shooting of Randle and Brunson. 

Finally, trading Barrett is a case of addition by subtraction. Yes, the recent lottery pick has ample potential.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat & New York Knicks Updates      

That doesn’t change the fact that at this moment, Barrett is, by the numbers, not a very impactful NBA player. 

That’s only part of why the Knicks’ season has been better than expected.