The New York Knicks are one team that will assuredly be buyers ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline this week. They already made one blockbuster trade with the Toronto Raptors this season and when healthy, have transformed into one of the best teams in the league.
The starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Isaiah Hartenstein has been the most productive five-man group in the NBA since its inception. However, the Knicks do have some areas on the team that could use shoring up.
When Brunson comes off the court, the team is lacking a shot creator to take his spot. That role used to belong to Immanuel Quickley, but he was traded to the Raptors, along with RJ Barrett, in the deal for Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Quentin Grimes, 2024 NBA Trade Deadline, New York Knicks Updates
It would behoove New York to add a shot creator ahead of the deadline. They have been connected to a few, such as Malcolm Brogdon, Jordan Clarkson and Dejounte Murray. However, the asking price has been very high to this point. The team has also been connected to Bruce Brown, who landed with the Raptors in the Pascal Siakam blockbuster.
The Knicks certainly have the draft capital to get a deal done and a great trade chip in Evan Fournier’s contract. However, the sweetener everyone has mentioned is shooting guard Quentin Grimes.
Grimes has unhappy with his role earlier in the season and the Knicks were reportedly shopping him around the league. However, their stance on trading Grimes has seemingly changed. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, New York has cooled on their willingness to move Grimes unless it is part of a major upgrade.
“It’s become clear the Knicks aren’t willing to part with Quentin Grimes unless New York is trading the young swingman for a perceived upgrade, sources said, as opposed to swapping him for a different back-of-the-rotation piece.
Grimes continues to have fans in Atlanta and Utah, sources said. The Jazz roster several players, most notably Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson, whom the Knicks still have on their radar, according to league sources,” wrote Fischer.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Quentin Grimes, 2024 NBA Trade Deadline, New York Knicks Updates
Based on that report, it is probably fair to assume Grimes won’t be heading to the Utah Jazz unless it is part of a bigger trade. Sending him to the Portland Trail Blazers to get back Brogdon seems unlikely as well. Including him in a trade package for Dejounte Murray, should the Knicks still be interested in acquiring him, could certainly be on the table.
Beyond that, it is hard to envision a trade getting done involving Grimes ahead of Thrusday. He can be used as part of a blockbuster trade over the summer when New York is expected to go star hunting again to improve a trade package.
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